Tienen (The Brussels Morning Newspaper): In 1970, Bosch partnered with Tienen to build a factory for car parts, focusing on windscreen wipers by 1974. The factory boosted local jobs and economy, adapting to industry changes and now employs 518 workers, producing 20% of Bosch’s wiper blades.
In 1970, Bosch and the city of Tienen made a deal to build a new factory for making electrical and electronic parts for cars. Construction started soon after, and the factory was designed with modern production lines and technology. Although it was originally meant to produce different car parts, the focus changed quickly to making windscreen wipers, which were in high demand. By early 1974, the factory was up and running, and production of windscreen wipers began, making Tienen an important part of Bosch’s manufacturing network worldwide.
How has Bosch’s Tienen factory impacted local economy and employment?
The Bosch factory greatly affected Tienen by creating many job opportunities and helping the local economy grow. It brought in skilled workers and led to more businesses in the area, like local suppliers and service providers. Over time, the Tienen plant improved its technology and continued to focus on making high-quality windscreen wipers for car makers and aftermarket sellers around the world. This partnership between Bosch and Tienen showed the city’s industrial growth and strengthened Bosch’s position as a top supplier in the automotive industry.
Bosch’s factory in Tienen has gone through many challenges as the car industry changed and competition grew. Over the years, they had to make adjustments due to rising production costs and new technologies, which sometimes meant tough decisions like layoffs. The biggest change came in 2021 when the focus shifted to electric cars and digital technology, aiming to improve efficiency and cut costs. Despite these challenges, Bosch Tienen has stayed strong, now employing 518 workers and continuing to play an important role in making car parts in a simpler and more flexible way, showing their commitment to adapting to the global market.
It has been said that the factory in Tienen is really important for making wiper blades and rubber. Spokesman Peter De Troch says that Tienen makes about 20% of Bosch’s wiper blades and 70% of the rubber for them. The company is putting 11 million euros into new production lines and packaging machines. They also have a new director, Richter Werner, who wants the factory to run well. He mentioned that the canteen used to look like a prison, but now it’s much better. The offices have also been updated. With these new production lines and changes, the factory’s future looks bright.
