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Borbet is one of Europe's leading manufacturers of light metal alloy wheels for the automobile industry, The local company and its 200-plus employees will remain in their existing facility in Auburn Technology Park North, operating under the name Borbet Alabama Inc.
City of Auburn and Borbet officials called the acquisition a win-win situation, giving Borbet its first U.S. location while retaining more than 200 jobs in the Auburn workforce.
"We could not have found a better fit for our first U.S. location," said Peter Wilhelm Borbet, president of Borbet Group.
"Based on the initiative and invitation by the city's Economic Development Department, we visited Auburn earlier this year and had the opportunity to observe the production and the local workforce at the plant."
Borbet said that after meeting with city, company and elected officials, his company determined that Auburn would be the ideal location for expanding its business into the North American market.
"I appreciate the city's assistance during the transition and look forward to expanding our business in Auburn," Borbet said.
Borbet Group, originally founded in 1881 as a family-owned metal casting business, is today a major supplier of aluminum wheels for Europe's automotive industry. The company designs and manufactures products for Audi, BMW, Jaguar, Mercedes Benz, Porsche, Rolls Royce, Saab, Volkswagen and many others.
Including the new Alabama operation, the Borbet Group employs 3,200 people. The company is scheduled to produce approximately 14.2 million aluminum wheels in 2008, generating sales of approximately 680 million EUROS.
"We are extremely pleased with Borbet's acquisition," said Auburn mayor Bill Ham. "As a family-owned business, Borbet is the perfect fit for Auburn's industrial family."
He said city officials worked closely with the Borbet family to ensure the long-term stability of the local facility and the retention of its employees.
"At a time when many communities are losing jobs due to plant closings, I am extremely proud of the work our city staff did in ensuring that these jobs remain in Auburn," he said.
