Damme. The turnover of automotive supplier BOGE Rubber & Plastics developed slightly above the trend in the industry in a difficult economic environment with worldwide pandemic-related lockdown and fragile supply chains in fiscal year 2020.
The global supplier of vibration control technology and plastic modules, headquartered in Damme, Lower Saxony, Germany, generated sales of EUR 670.9 million with around 4,000 employees, thus 15.6 per cent less than in the previous year. This roughly corresponds to the decline in production figures in the global automotive industry, which amounted to 15.9 percent with 74.7 million units produced. Since 2014, the BOGE Rubber & Plastics Group has been part of the Chinese CRRC Group, the world's largest manufacturer of rail vehicles and rail industry accessories.
Reducing the pandemic-related risks was not the only priority for BOGE in 2020: it was also important to confirm its position as a reliable and system-relevant technology partner for the automotive industry. The automotive supplier's 2020 business year was characterized by the topics of delivery capability and securing liquidity while at the same time intensifying internationalization. In an environment characterized by considerable short-time work due to the pandemic, BOGE stabilized its liquidity and customers were able to rely on its ability to deliver at all times. BOGE, present at eleven locations worldwide, including three each in China and Germany, has significantly expanded its capacities at the San Luis Potosí (Mexico) and Trnava (Slovakia) plants. A large number of new projects were acquired for both locations. In addition, the third plant in China, located in Wuxi - started operations.
For the future, BOGE also wants to successfully implement its competences outside the automotive industry, for example in agricultural technology, in the railway industry and in shipping. As far as future drive concepts and electromobility are concerned, BOGE is very broadly based: BOGE has received strategically significant new orders from renowned car manufacturers for key platforms of future drive concepts, i.e. battery-electric as well as plug-in hybrid vehicles. The range of electromobility solutions extends from engine and chassis mounts to battery housings with EMC protection (EMC = electromagnetic compatibility) and ultra-light transmission mount modules to lightweight electric brake pedals. The new product segment "plastic components and modules in the engine compartment" is picking up speed.