French rubber group starts production in Albania

Elbasan, Albania – French automotive supplier Delmon Group has started up a new production plant in Elbasan, central Albania.

The €1.5-million plant manufactures rubber parts mainly for automotive business, including exhaust hangers, stabiliser bar bushing, seals and dampers, Ertjan Cabiri, managing director, Albania told ERJ.

Just over an hour away from the Durres port, the facility is targeting German, French and other European OEMs.

“The favourable geographical position, together with the low labour costs were the main reasons for choosing Albania,” Cabiri said

The production plant already reached a €1-million turnover last year and is aiming to increase sales to €6 million by the end of this year.

Additionally, Delmon is pumping some €3 million in the facility over the next three to four years to increase sales to €20 million by 2024.

“We were very impressed by our Albanian workforce… Trainings on our rubber technics were highly successful,” Sylvain Broux the CEO of the group told ERJ.

Based in Terrasson-Lavilledieu, France, the Delmon Group specialises in rubber-metal, anti-vibration and sealing systems for the automotive, aeronautics, railway and oil & gas industries.

The company has three production plants in Terrasson-Lavilledieu, France; Castellbisbal, Spain; and Elbasan, Albania.