Dürr continues on path of success by winning major contract worth Euro 55 million in growth market China

07/02/2002

• Complete paint shop for Chinese joint venture
• Growing market volume

Thanks to a new major contract worth Euro 55 million, the Dürr Technology Group is able to further improve its standing in the automotive growth market in China. The Dürr Paint Systems business unit will set up a turnkey paint shop for the vehicle manufacturer SAIC Chery Automobile Co. Ltd. in the eastern Chinese city of Wuhu.

The scope of supply includes ultramodern paint process and application systems for all stages of automotive mass production, integrated Dürr software solutions for control and supervisory control systems and all conveyor systems. The innovative RoDip process for pretreatment and dip coating of body shells will also be installed at Wuhu. The paint shop is designed for a production capacity of approx. 150,000 bodies per year, and commissioning of the plant is scheduled for as early as end of 2003. The contract also includes the supply of application equipment for another paint shop owned by customer SAIC Chery Automobile.

At the Wuhu site, SAIC Chery Automobile - a joint venture between two Chinese car makers - will manufacture cars, mainly for the fast growing domestic market, but also for export to other Asian countries. Dürr has recently participated in the dynamic development of the automotive industry in China with several paint shop system contracts. Dürr is also active in other areas of automotive production in China, for example by providing solutions for the manufacture of power train components, for production planning and for final vehicle assembly.

"The rapidly growing Chinese market is highly attractive for Dürr. Already today, we are the leading supplier of paint finishing systems and manufacturing support services to the automotive industry. Thanks to our direct local presence and close contacts to Chinese and foreign manufacturers, we are well placed, in order to secure our share of the growing market volume in China in future also" says Hans Dieter Pötsch, Chairman of the Board of Management of Dürr AG.

The Dürr Technology Group is one of the world's leading suppliers of manufacturing systems and manufacturing support services for the automotive industry and its suppliers. Dürr offers, as part of its 'Life Cycle Strategy', a comprehensive program of systems solutions for major value-adding steps in automobile manufacture. These range from production process planning to the installation of turnkey systems and on to manufacturing support and assistance services in full-production conditions. The five business units, operating under the strategic leadership of Dürr AG, employ approximately 12,500 people worldwide and are directly represented in more than 25 countries. In fiscal 2001 the Dürr Group achieved sales of over Euro 2.2 billion and EBITDA of Euro 135 million.