Mecaplast Group

Mecaplast Group

Type	Limited Monégasque Company
Industry	Automotive
Founder	Charles Manni
Headquarters	4-6 avenue Prince-Albert-II, Monaco
Key people	Thierry Manni, Pierre Boulet
Products	Integrated automotive systems and components
Revenue	€734 M (2015)
Total equity	Manni Family, FAA (former FMEA), BPIFrance, MECAPLAST Management
Number of employees	6000 in 2016
Website	www.mecaplast.com

Mecaplast Group (now known as Novares) is an international automotive supplier and a major contributor to the Monegasque economy. Founded in 1955 by Charles Manni,^[1] it specializes in the design and manufacture of parts and complete systems for the vehicle body (interior and exterior) and engine. Mecaplast Group employs a total of 6000 employees located in 18 countries and contributes to a revenue of €734 million (2015). Thierry Manni is the chairman of the board^[2] and the chief executive officer is Pierre Boulet.

History

Mecaplast was founded in 1955 by Charles Manni, (d. 2012). It started off with five people working in an apartment and a cellar located on Chemin des Œillets in Monaco. At the age of 29, Manni developed the first plastic part: a chemical capacitor cap for a company called Micro.

In 1964, Mecaplast made its entry into the automotive industry after having been selected to manufacture the plastic fan for the Peugeot 204. The company grew further and in 1969, it created a methods service and a tooling workshop. In 1975, it developed a company specialized in specific assembly machines. It was during this period that the Monegasque headquarters relocated to its current offices in the heart of the industrial district of Fontvieille in "Zone F" and to the production factory in the building called "Flots Bleus." In 1985, Mecaplast created its first site outside of Monaco in Valréas, France.

From 2007, the entire automotive industry was affected by a crisis, including operations at Mecaplast.^[3] The group was obliged to reduce its workforce and close or sell some production sites.

In August 2009, Mecaplast was nominated as a strategic supplier for PSA and Renault, and as a result, the Group benefitted from the Modernization Fund for Automobile Equipment Suppliers (FMEA)^[4] which increased the company’s capital by €55 million/33% stake. The Chennai^[5] plant in India^[6] was opened on 3 June 2010.

Furthermore, the Group opened a third manufacturing site in Yantai, China and another in Zrenjanin, Serbia. The Zrenjanin^[7] site was officially opened on 3 April 2012. Those in attendance included Boris Tadic (President of Serbia), Thierry Manni (Chairman of the Board), Nebojša Ćirić (Former Minister of Economy and Regional Development), Mileta Mihailov (Mayor of Zrenjanin), José Badia(Minister of Foreign Affairs in Monaco) and François-Xavier Deniau (Ambassador of France in Serbia).

Since then, the group continues its expansion and opened in 2014 a 4th plant in China, in Shenyang.

In 2015, MECAPLAST celebratef its 60th anniversary. 2 new sites are inaugurated in Silao (Mexico) and Zavar (Slovakia) in 2016.

Today, MECAPLAST reports revenues of 734 million euros and employs 6000 people worldwide.

Organization

The Group is organized into 5 business units and gathers all its employees around a strong corporate culture: SMART'Attitude.

In 2017, Mecaplast Group is present in 19 countries and has 28 production sites, 16 Customer Service Centers and 6 Technical Centers and 3 Skills Centers specialized in car body and engine parts.^[8]

Activity

The company produces plastic parts. They can be classified into two groups:

• Engine parts: engine air intake/intake line and components, screen systems (thermal and acoustic), fluid management
• Interior or exterior vehicle body parts: trims, storage modules, trunks(liners and shelves),painted exterior parts, covering parts, cowling, roof bars and pillars, spoilers).

Clients

MECAPLAST collaborates with major automobile manufacturers, which include:

• PSA Peugeot - Citroën, Renault Nissan - Samsung Motors - Dacia, BMW, Chrysler, Daimler
• Fiat, Ford, General Motors, Toyota, Scania
• Volkswagen Group: Volkswagen, Audi, Seat - Skoda - Volvo

Key figures

Revenue in M€/Workforce^[10]

Revenue by product line

• Body: 65%
• Engine: 35%

Main competitors

• Engine: MGI COUTIER, Mark IV, Mahle, Treves, Steep, Mann Hummel
• Interior: Faurecia, Visteon, Treves, Eurostyle Moller Tech, Borgers
• Exterior: MGI COUTIER, Faurecia, Valeo

References