Valeo Opening Electronic Systems Technical Center in Germany
IVsource.net
11 November 2001

Valeo, the global automotive component supplier, has announced plans to open a new advanced technical center in Bietigheim, Germany, to enhance its electronics engineering capabilities ... and tackle some IV systems development.

Valeo, the global automotive component supplier, has announced plans to open a new advanced technical center in Bietigheim, Germany, to enhance its electronics engineering capabilities.

The technical center, expected to house nearly 400 electronics and mechanical engineers and management staff, forms a key part of the company's strategy.  The top tier supplier aims to significantly increase future sales of electrical and electronic subsystems by meeting emerging needs of vehicle manufacturers and motorists alike.  Notably, intelligent vehicle systems feature prominently within their product development plans.

Valeo is investing over 50M Euro to create this 6,000 square-meter purpose-built technical center.  Valeo's engineering expertise in advanced electronics systems, including telematic sensors, will be consolidated with their development center for integrated driver interfaces.

Earlier this year, the company announced plans to increase sales of electrical subsystems and electronics from the current 55 percent of total group sales to around 70 percent over the coming years.  The establishment of the new technical center represents an important constituent of this goal.

Thierry Morin, chairman of Valeo's Management Board, said, "This new technical center contributes to our overall growth plans for the electrical and electronics businesses.  Consolidating focused electronics expertise will not only encourage further electronics developments and integration possibilities, but will also provide the strengths upon which our future successes will be founded.''

Lane Departure Warning Group Established

At the new center, a "Lane Departure Warning'' group will be set up to focus exclusively on the development and integration of an advanced video-based image processing system that warns the driver in case of an unintentional lane departure.  The project is the result of an agreement signed with Iteris, a US-based software and sensor developer, announced in June this year (see related IVsource article).  Valeo's team of in-house radar development specialists will also be based in the new center.  Additionally, Valeo's top column module, which has an integrated steering angle sensor, will benefit from the mechatronics systems integration expertise in the cross-project culture.

Many systems developed at the center will also support the company's "Seeing and Being Seen'' Domain, one of several Valeo 'domains,' or company focus areas.

Valeo expects that the co-location of multi-disciplinary electronics engineers at the technical center will further improve communication and cross-project synergy.  All departments and projects in the new building will have immediately available to them a pool of expert resources in advanced electronics, from radar and ultrasound to video sensing and advanced switch design.

The technical center will be located adjacent to Valeo's existing site in Bietigheim that houses an Electronics Competence Center with advanced test facilities and design support.  The engineers and general management, including the sales and quality divisions, are expected to transfer next year upon opening of the center.  At least 80 engineering slots are to be filled, most likely from some of the many universities with which Valeo has longstanding collaborations.

Valeo is an independent industrial group fully focused on the design, production and sale of components, integrated systems and modules for cars and trucks and ranks among the world's top automotive suppliers.  The group has 162 plants, 49 R&D centers, 10 distribution centers and employs 78,000 people in 25 countries worldwide.

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For More Information ...

... access www.valeo.com. 

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