SENSATA Technologies Opens Its Largest Testing Facility In Sofia
Sensata Technologies officially opened a $3 million testing laboratory, its largest worldwide in Bulgaria’s capital Sofia. The company is a global industrial technology leader in the development, manufacture and sale of sensors and controls for mission-critical applications that improve safety, efficiency and comfort in a wide array of automotive, appliance, aircraft, industrial, military, heavy vehicle, heating, air-conditioning, data, telecommunications and marine applications.
The testing lab in Sofia is already operating on a total area of 6 000 sq. m. with over 100 newly hired highly-qualified engineers and experts in safety testing and development of equipment for Sensata’s components focused on automotive applications.
Sensata Technology testing facility recreates some of the harshest conditions for an automotive component, including extreme temperatures and severe environmental influence. The company already employs 3 000 people in Bulgaria and operates two sensor production plants – in Plovdiv and Botevgrad. The facilities in Plovdiv produce pressure sensors. The plant in Botevgrad produces temperature sensors for Volkswagen, Daimler, Volvo, Fiat and General Motors. “Now we are able to close the cycle of our processes only in one country and this is unique for Sensata”, said Paul Chawla, senior vice president of Sensata’s European unit during the opening ceremony.
“Congratulation for Sensata Technologies for allocating its investment in a high-tech laboratory in Sofia city where to grow its business and work on reducing emissions. These match along with our main mission – to create a green and innovative environment in our city” Mayor Yordanka Fandakova said.
In recent years, educated workforce and constantly improving public infrastructure have encouraged foreign investors to set up their business in Sofia, said Mrs Fandakova. According to her, the stable results achieved in the last few years pushed Sofia to the leading position in Bulgaria.
Sofia keeps the lowest unemployment rate in the country and in the EU (only 2.3 %, January 2017). According to data provided by the Institute for Market Economics, the capital attracts over 54% of the Bulgaria’s FDI as well as foreign companies from 77 countries around the world.
