Tenneco has finished a 20 million euro investment project in Sint-Truiden

Shock absorber manufacturer Tenneco Automotive has just finalised a 20 million euro investment project, with some of the funds destined to the development of new products including an advanced shock absorber for the British sport brand McLaren. Since its humble beginnings in 1964 as Monroe, which it is still called at its home base in Sint-Truiden, to its takeover by Tenneco Automotive in 1977, this business has positioned itself as the key employer in the region and second biggest employer in the Limburg auto industry. Ten years ago Tenneco Sint-Truiden employed a staff of about 1 400. Following job cuts during the financial crisis in 2008, their staff gradually grew again to 1 200. “Thanks to collaboration with the trade unions in respect of flexible working hours and anti-crisis steps taken by the government, we managed to avoid restructuring,” says business leader Luc Thysen. The 7.8 million shock absorbers currently produced in Saint Truiden each year constitute one quarter of Tenneco’s European production. At present 70% of their production goes to car makers and 30% is sold in the replacement market under the Monroe brand. Flemish Minister-president Kris Peeters CD&V received the hundred millionth shock absorber from Tenneco on Friday. It’s biggest customer is currently the VW group, but it also sells to Volvo, Porsche, Ford, Mercedes and BMW.  In addition to its focus on shock absorbers, the Sint-Truiden factory has also grown into a crucial development centre, with a 20 million euro investment programme run at the development and production facilities during the past five years. Another 4 to 5 million euros will be invested here in the next few years. On Friday Tenneco also presented ACOCAR, a new suspension with electronic muffling which minimizes the rolling movement of the bodywork and eliminates all unevenness on the road surface. Faced with lesser quality imports from China at 30% cheaper, Tenneco has no option but to keep improving its products and limiting price hikes to maintain its European market share.