PROJECTS

Inalfa Roof System: a component of the Citroën Pluriel
Venray - Inalfa Roof Systems Group, with its head office in Venray in the Netherlands, is a globally recognised expert and manufacturer of sunroofs and sliding roofs for the motorcar industry. Inalfa products are delivered directly to various car manufacturers all over the world. These manufacturers include France's Citroën, which launched the Citroën Pluriel. The Citroën Pluriel is a car with an extremely ingenious and versatile roof construction. The secret of this roof construction, which is made by Inalfa, is the multiplicity of possibilities. The sliding roof can be electrically opened to eight positions and subsequently manually stored in a space under the baggage compartment. For even more 'convertible feeling', the removable roof struts can be left behind in the garage. If you want to take your beach chairs with you, convert the Pluriel into a mini pick-up by folding the two backseats.

Late start, hard deadlines
Frank Vanmaris, Commodity Purchase Manager of Inalfa, talked about the component that Timmerije supplies for the Citroën Pluriel: "This specific component only arose late in the development process; for this reason, we had to work against the clock. You then look at who can supply such a product in batches within such hard logistical deadlines and competitively. We choose Timmerije. They suggested clever solutions within a rough plan that we subsequently worked out together. Assembly, in which a number of metal springs had to be manually fixed to the synthetic product, was also well thought through. This was effected at a sheltered workshop under the direction of Timmerije, where they were, of course, responsible for the quality of the assembled product".

Automotive competitive market with strong, logistical requirements
The motorcar market is a market in which competition is sizeable and fierce. Continuous steps to improve efficiency must ensure the most appropriate production. And flawless logistics are the lifeblood of the production line of every car manufacturer. Frank Vanmaris of Inalfa said: "Even if a project is - for whatever reason - started at a late stage, the deadlines remain unchanged. So, when you are looking for a production partner, you look for more than just a competitive price. Questions such as 'can they arrange the tools and moulds on time?', 'is there continuity in the batch supply?' and 'is good teamwork possible?' also play a role".

Looking each other directly in the eye ...
Did Inalfa experience problems during the project? Frank Vanmaris said: "During such a process - and certainly if there is a shortage of time - there are almost always moments when one has to be able to look each other directly in the eye and expect resolute decisions. But everything ultimately went satisfactorily and Timmerije did an excellent job. They supported us well, were flexible with last minute changes and produced well thought-through technical solutions".