The launch onto the market of the new Logan model equipped with a diesel engine has created new opportunities for local suppliers of Dacia-Renault, so that part of them have started investment programmes that should allow them to adjust to the French carmaker''s demands.
Bistrita-based Rombat company, a supplier of batteries for Dacia, has invested about two million euros in battery producing technologies, to equip the new Logan model, as well.
According to the company''s officials, the new batteries, with a lead-calcium alloy, are a novelty for the domestic market.
"There is no producer that uses this technology in Romania for the time being and all lead-calcium alloy batteries are imported," Ioan Repede, general manager of Rombat, told ZF Transilvania.
According to him, investments in the new manufacturing technology were not made for the new Logan models especially, but following market demand.
"The new accumulator has a slower self-discharge as it is leak-proof. Its life span is of over four years, and provided the user maintains it well, this period can double," Rombat manager also stated.
The company delivers to Dacia-Renault about 15% of the total production every year. About 19% of its output is currently exported particularly to France, Portugal, as well as Hungary, Russia or Bulgaria, with the rest being sold on the domestic market.
Bistrita-based plant last year logged turnover worth 21 million euros, and for this year expects turnover to hit 24 million euros.
Early this year, Rombat officials forecast they would deliver about 150,000 batteries for the cars manufactured in Pitesti.
Timisoara-based Spumotim, a producer of polyurethane foams, also saw some changes, as it is getting ready to launch new products for Logan models. The company will manufacture seats for the new models to be launched onto the market this autumn.
"At this moment, we are in the homologation phase, normal for all new projects, and if everything is in line with Renault''s standards, we will begin production in several months," Elena Ratcu, the company''s financial manager, told ZF Transilvania.
The firm''s officials chose not to offer additional details on the investments needed for the modification of the moulds for the new seats, but stated the technology would be entirely acquired from France.
Other traditional suppliers for Dacia, such as Sinterom, a producer of components for the brake systems and windscreen wipers, says no additional investments will be needed to continue collaborating with Dacia-Renault for the new model.
"Everything we make for Dacia Logan will remain unchanged. We have not received any requests from Renault officials to make any changes in the products we supply," stated Marcel Leonte, Sinterom Cluj general manager.
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