Fire at Recticel's Czech plant may impact automotive suppliers globally

A “serious fire” at Recticel International’s Most, Czech Republic, plant has forced the company to halt production of a urethane auto interior skin product used by global automotive suppliers.

Brussels-based Recticel declared force majeure following the 22 Jan fire at one of its production halls in Most.

In a 23 Jan news release, the company said it is currently “unable to assess the damage of the plant, and production has been stopped completely. As far as can be ascertained at this stage, no one has been hurt.”

The Czech factory supplies a number of major automotive industry players, among them Magna International, Yanfeng Automotive Interiors, Faurecia, IAC and Grupo Antolin, according to data from Recticel. The group’s factory in Most specialises in making surfaces of various interior car components, including instrument panels and door panels.

Recticel says its interiors division is the sole worldwide provider of patented polyurethane sprayed skins for car interiors.

The Czech production facility is operated by the company’s local subsidiary RAI MOST In addition to the plant in Most, Recticel operates a second factory in the Czech Republic, in Mlada Boleslav. Both facilities are located in the country’s north-west, close to the German border.