Valeo - encyclopedia article about Valeo.

Valeo

	Public (Euronext Paris)
Founded	1923
Headquarters	Paris, France
Industry	Automotive
Products	automotive components
Employees	70,400
Website	www.valeo.com

Valeo is a French automotive components manufacturer.

History

The Société Anonyme Française du Ferodo was founded in 1923 in Saint-Ouen, a suburb of Paris. It first distributed brake linings and clutch facings under license of Ferodo UK. The society engaged in a diversification in the 1960’s by producing braking systems (1961), thermal systems (1962), electronical components (1963), and lightning systems (1970). In May 1980, the society was renamed Valeo, which means “I am well” in Latin.

Valeo then engaged in an aggressive strategy of expansion, through many international acquisitions. Today, Valeo is split in 11 branches, most of which were bought from foreign competitors. Recent acquisitions include the engine systems division of Johnson Controls in France, and a former Visteon plant in the USA.

Organisation

Valeo manages 130 plants and 65 R&D centers in 26 countries. In 2005, its sales were distributed as follows: 69% in Europe, 15% in North America, 12% in Asia, and 4% in South America.

The Valeo Group is split in 3 main domains and 11 product families:

Driving Assistance:
* Switches and Detection Systems (VSDS);
* Lighting Systems (VLS);
* Wiper Systems (VWS);
Powertrain Efficiency:
* Engine Management Systems (VEMS);
* Electrical Systems (VES);
* Engine Cooling (VEC);
* Compressors (VC);
* Transmissions (VT);
Comfort Enhancement:
* Security Systems (VSS);
* Climate Control (VCC);
* Electronics & Connective Systems (VECS)

Going Abroad

In 2005, Valeo launched a software services center in Egypt(out-sourcing), under the name of VIAS (Valeo Interbranch Automotive Software). This center provides all software services for all Valeo branches,as will as it applies state of the art software development technology along with the needed validation and testing tools for other VALEO branches

In addition, Valeo Service supplies aftermarket products to professionals.

Turnover repartition by product line:

Electronics: 63 %
Thermal: 30 %
Transmissions: 7 %

CEOs

Noël Goutard: 1987 - May 2000
André Navarri: May 2000 - February 2001
Thierry Morin: since February 2001

The 5 Axes

Valeo has designed the 5 Axes methodology, which is the backbone of the firm’s identity. Its aim is to satisfy the client by achieving zero quality incidents, whichever the product and wherever it is manufactured. The 5 Axes are:

Involvement of personnel;
Production system;
Supplier integration;
Constant innovation;
Total quality.

Competition

Main competition comes from Bosch, Delphi, Denso, TRW Automotive and Visteon.

Key figures

Turnover (millions):

2004: €9,229
2005: €9,933

Operating margin:

2004: 3.6 %
2005: 3.1 %

Links

Official website
Valeo Motorsport website
Luc Alphand and Valeo - 24H of Le Mans Luc Alphand and Valeo - 24H of Le Mans

Euronext Paris is France's securities market, formerly known as the Paris Bourse, which merged with the Amsterdam and Brussels exchanges in September 2000 to form Euronext NV, which is the second largest exchange in Europe behind the London Stock Exchange.
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Industry (from Latin industrius, "diligent, industrious"), is the segment of economy concerned with production of goods. Industry began in its present form during the 1800s, aided by technological advances, and it has continued to develop to this day.
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automobile (from Greek auto, self and Latin mobile moving, a vehicle that moves itself rather than being moved by another vehicle or animal) or motor car (usually shortened to just car) is a wheeled passenger vehicle that carries its own motor.
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Aspinwall Classification System (Leo Aspinwall, 1958) classifies and rates products based on five variables:

Replacement rate (How frequently is the product repurchased?)
Gross margin (How much profit is obtained from each product?)

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Employment is a contract between two parties, one being the employer and the other being the employee. An employee may be defined as: "A person in the service of another under any contract of hire, express or implied, oral or written, where the employer has
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A website (alternatively, Web site or web site) is a collection of Web pages, images, videos or other digital assets that is hosted on one or several Web server(s), usually accessible via the Internet, cell phone or a LAN.
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VIA may refer to one of the following.

Italian for: "By way of", "Get out of the way" or "Street"
VIA (Volunteers In Asia), is an American non-profit organization providing international cultural exchange programs.

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André Navarri, born in 1953, holds an engineering degree from the École Centrale Paris.

Mr. Navarri began his career in consulting roles for SCET International in Brazil and EXA International in Brazil and Africa.
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Robert Bosch GmbH

GmbH
Founded 1886
Headquarters Gerlingen, Germany

Key people Robert Bosch, founder
Industry Automotive, Small appliance
Products Automotive parts, Power tools
Revenue $43,7 Billions (2006)
Net income $2,17 Billions (2006)
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Delphi Corp.

Public Pink Sheets: DPHIQ
Founded 1997 in Troy, Michigan, USA
Headquarters Troy, Michigan, USA

Key people Rodney O'Neal, CEO, COO
Robert S. Miller, Chairman
Robert J.
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DENSO Corporation (株式会社デンソー
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TRW Automotive Holdings NYSE: TRW is a supplier of automotive parts to manufacturers and aftermarket dealers. [1] . It was created out of a sell-off of parts of the former TRW corporation.
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Visteon NYSE: VC is an automotive parts company spun off from the Ford Motor Company.

Visteon is to the Ford Motor Company as Delphi is to General Motors and Denso is to Toyota. In 2004, it had 70,000 employees worldwide and $18.
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