Sogefi Group ploughs further investment into UK operation following increasing market demand.

Leading automotive parts group, Sogefi, has responded to increasing market demand in the UK by opening a new aftermarket sales office in Wales. The move follows the opening of the company’s new, state-of-the-art warehouse in Lutterworth, Leicestershire, late last year and confirms Sogefi Aftermarket Division´s strong commitment to further investment in the UK.

Sogefi Aftermarket Division is home to the UK’s number one filter brand Fram, as well as the CoopersFiaam, Purflux and Sogefi Pro filter brands and has already relocated its six-strong sales team into the new, modern premises at Greenmeadow Springs Business Park in Tongwynlais, Cardiff.

The investment reflects Sogefi’s aim of adding value to its aftermarket customer services, whilst providing contemporary facilities for visiting key customers and groups. The Sogefi Group already has four manufacturing plants in the UK, employing in total around 600 people.

In late 2011 Sogefi’s Aftermarket Division signed up with specialist logistics distributor, Geodis and relocated its next day delivery service to a future-ready, 10,400 sq. meter distribution centre in Magna Park, Lutterworth.

Andrea Taschini, General Manager of the Sogefi Aftermarket Division comments: “We wanted to create a new identity for the division whilst improving accessibility for visitors, with a new, modern office positioned at a convenient location for easy access to the motorway network and Cardiff airport. Central to this decision is also the ability to offer visiting customers a more ‘user friendly’ environment. Equally, it was essential to improve the workplace for staff. The office also provides room for expansion, should further products and services be needed by our customers in the rapidly changing marketplace,” he added.

Simultaneous to the office opening, Sogefi has also appointed a new Country Area Manager, Nigel Duffield, who is responsible for driving the company’s growth in the UK and Ireland. Nigel Duffield joined Sogefi Group from Meritor Aftermarket in October, and brings with him a wealth of expertise and experience from his 16 years working within the car and truck automotive sector. He confirmed: “It is a privilege to be joining such a respected company at this time. We will now work hard with our loyal customers to promote our quality products and bring a proactive approach to the market. We will also be devoting time to developing the brands with the garage network and key members of the distributor’s sales staff. All of this will enhance our added value services and prove that we are committed to growing our already well established UK / Ireland market.”

Sogefi is Europe’s leading OE and aftermarket filter provider. Its Fram, CoopersFiaam and Purflux aftermarket brands offer a complete range of automotive oil, air, fuel and cabin air filters, providing OE quality, to all-makes of major European, American and Asian car manufactures. In addition the company’s Sogefi Pro brand (launched at Automechanika in September) provides OE-quality, for all-makes of filters for commercial vehicle applications.

For more information about Sogefi’s aftermarket filter programmes, contact your Sogefi area sales manager or visit www.sogefigroup.com