Central position in Europe

Automotive engineering: key branch of industry
and core competence of the Bavarian economy:

• Audi and BMW as manufacturers
• Some 1,000 plants in the automotive suppliers’ industry in Bavaria

The suppliers’ industry in Upper Franconia, particularly in the region of HochFranken, is a strong partner of automobile manufacturers. Approximately one quarter of the industrial workforce in Upper Franconia is employed in the automotive industry.

HochFranken – in the heart of Europe
HochFranken boasts a central position in Europe and offers a highly efficient network of national transport routes providing direct connection to pertinent markets, suppliers and many final assembly plants of Audi, BMW, DaimlerChrysler, GM/Opel, Porsche or VW. Situated in the direct vicinity of the Czech Republic, logistically, HochFranken is also an excellent location to exploit the opportunities of the growing markets in Central and Eastern Europe.

Fast access

• The local airport of Hof-Plauen with three daily flights to and from Frankfurt as well as individual air-taxi charter services enables day trips to all major European cities.
• International airports in Nuremberg, Dresden and Halle/Leipzig are just 150 km away.
• The region of HochFranken offers access to a highly efficient motorway system (A9, A72, A93)
  
  

Using synergies

A highly efficient network of component suppliers
Some 150 component suppliers from Upper Franconia provide supplies for the German automotive industry and also throughout the world. The core competences are in the fields of

• Electrical engineering and electronics
• Ceramics
• Plastics processing
• Metal processing
• Textiles
• Industrial springs

Renowned companies such as Scherdel, Rausch und Pausch, ABM Greiffenberger, Rehau AG or Vishay already have sites in HochFranken, and companies like Bosch, Siemens or Brose are close by.

“Bavarian Innovation and Cooperation Initiative for the Automotive Suppliers Industry“ BAIKA:

• Active network of over 1.450 international companies in the automotive industry aimed at boosting cooperation between automobile manufacturers and system suppliers and among tier 1-4 suppliers
• Participation at trade fairs as well as the organization of cooperation forums and symposiums to encourage synergies and partnerships

Partners and workforce

Strong partners in research and development

• Center of Excellence for New Materials (Kompetenzzentrum Neue Materialien Nordbayern)
• Bundled competence of the automotive industry in the engineering cluster formed by the cities of Bayreuth, Erlangen/Fürth und Wuerzburg
• Center of Excellence for New Materials in Bayreuth: development of new products and processes in the key fields of lightweight construction, multi-functionality, energy technology, tribology and corrosion, also in material categories such as light metals (aluminum), hard materials (diamonds), polymer materials and ceramics (aluminum nitride).
• Chair for automotive engineering at the University of Bamberg
  
  

Qualified workforce - just in time
HochFranken has a highly qualified workforce potential with particular emphasis on the processing industry.

• There are, at present, over 90,000 registered persons employed, 12.7% of this workforce are employed in the metal processing industry
• High potential of experienced industrial manpower from traditional sectors presently undergoing a structural change
• Intensive networking of the labor market with the neighboring federal states of Saxony and Thuringia
• Low wage level, approximately 20% below the national average

Demand-oriented qualification has maximum priority in HochFranken. In Bavaria, the number of persons being trained and undergoing further vocational training is above average. Together with the experienced, well-organized educational establishments and vocational training centers, ideal conditions are provided for an investor-related qualification program which can supply qualified manpower on a just-in-time basis, in keeping with corporate needs.

... to sum up: HochFranken is a location with value added

HochFranken combines....

• Top location in the North of Bavaria
• Top industrial environment
• Top competence in research, development and innovation
• Top workforce potential with high productivity at a moderate wage level
• Top cost benefits through favorable property prices and low living costs
• Top support: For new recruitments or expansions investment grants of up to 28% are made available to small and medium-sized businesses and up to 18% for larger companies, within the framework of the regional support program.

The recruitment of the company Altec GmbH – a subsidiary of the Spanish INFUN Group – in HochFranken in 2003 initiated the starting shot for the Automotive Component Suppliers’ Park HochFranken. With an investment of approx. 40 million Euro HochFranken is to become home to the world’s most advanced factory for aluminum and magnesium diecast parts for the automotive industry.

Automotive Engineering Center
There is yet another highlight awaiting you at the Automotive Component Suppliers’ Park HochFranken as from July 14, 2004: The Automotive Engineering Center:

Component Suppliers’ Park with Automotive Engineering Center Cooperation and Innovation:

Automotive Component Suppliers’ Park HochFranken

• 156 hectare site: fully developed, ready for building
• direct connection to the motorway
• moderate property prices
• buildings and hall complexes available upon request

Cooperation platform for companies – core focal point
For the supplier park: Automotive Engineering Center HochFranken

The Automotive Engineering Center helps automotive suppliers realize cost, innovation and time benefits through

• The provision of state-of-the-art, high-investment testing facilities for flexible use – full confidentiality guaranteed,
• Fast access to expertise and know-how in industry and science,
• The possibility of competence pooling through cooperation projects,
• A creative environment for the transfer of research results to series production.

Attractive and flexible equipment coordinated to the requirements of users, an interesting business community environment and access to comprehensive networks make this Automotive Engineering Center HochFranken, with adjacent supplier park, an ideal base for commitment in Bavaria, Germany and Europe.