Investment sees auto firm expand into Vietnam city
A VALLEYS automotive company is expanding into Vietnam with a multimillion-pound investment.
Rhondda-based Waldon is to open a whollyowned subsidiary in Ho Chi Minh City, with the long-term plan of manufacturing parts for cars and selling them to carmakers and system suppliers worldwide.
Waldon – part of German group Selectrona GmbH – came to south Wales in the early 1990s to support the arrival of nearby Bosch factory. With its round-the-clock semi-automated operation, the firm is among the world’s top manufacturers in terms of efficiency and quality.
The company produces injection-moulded housings containing electronic items such as sensors which alert drivers to issues such as flat tyres.
Waldon senior manager Richard Kempa, said the expansion had been made possible by technical advances and efficiencies achieved by the company.
He added: “The new venture in Vietnam will be, in many ways, modelled on that here in Wales, with many technical and operational parallels.
“Vietnam is an ascendent country in manufacturing terms and will help us access and support the world markets we serve.”
The first stage of the move will begin in the early summer and it is ex- pected that the factory will be in production within a couple of years.
Waldon has invested heavily in technology since coming to Wales.
It has a turnover of £4.5m and workforce of 45. The firm said it is constantly looking to improve efficiency and add value to its products.
Mr Kempa said: “We have tested many new methods and technologies here, and have made a lot of innovative technical advances.
“The time is now right for this expansion and we are confident that Vietnam is the right location.”
Cardiff law firm Berry Smith has supported Waldon’s expansion plans, using its knowledge of international business law and contacts.
Andrew Bound, partner at Berry Smith, said: ”We have very strong ties with German businesses and professionals, both there and in Wales. We are delighted to have been able to work with Waldon and their German owners in facilitating this expansion.”
Mr Kempa said that having a solicitor with Welsh-German connections had made the process easier.
He said: “In making this move we were dealing with authorities in three countries – Wales, Germany and Vietnam. It was important that we had a unification of purpose and strategy between our Welsh and German operations, so this could be presented effectively to authorities in Vietnam.
“Berry Smith have played that role for us and we are very grateful to them.”