On July 25, 2024, Benchmark celebrated a significant milestone—expanding its premier manufacturing facility in Brasov, Romania. This momentous occasion marked a near doubling of manufacturing capacity and underscored the company's commitment to growth, innovation, and community engagement. The expansion is projected to create up to 500 new jobs in the coming years, fostering economic development and opportunities for local talent.
The event was attended by key partners, dedicated suppliers, local dignitaries, and community members, reflecting the strong partnerships and community ties that Benchmark has cultivated over the years. The group included the Municipality of Ghimbav, ICCO Industrial Park, Transilvania University, Brasov Chamber of Commerce, and members of the local business community, including Premium Aerotec, Diehl Controls, Sennheiser, ING Bank, and Banca Transilvania.
Their presence was a testament to the collaborative spirit that has driven the success of this expansion. Ghimbav Mayor Ionel Fliundra also spoke at the event, saying, “Benchmark Electronics Romania is an important business partner because it’s one of the highest financial contributors to the municipality, currently offering countless jobs to residents. Through the new production area in which production activities began to take shape, we welcome the creation of new jobs in a clean and healthy work environment. Meanwhile, Benchmark is close to the local community of Ghimbav town as a major supporter and financier of sports activities.”
The expanded Brasov facility is part of Benchmark's broader strategy to enhance its global manufacturing capacity. By leveraging existing facilities and leadership, the company aims to meet the growing demand from customers who prefer localized production closer to their end markets. The new space increases manufacturing capacity while enhancing system integration and workflow on the production floor, ensuring higher efficiency and better service for customers. This facility will continue to serve key customers across the medical technologies, complex industrials, and semiconductor capital equipment industries.
Dave Valkanoff, Chief Operating Officer of Benchmark, spoke at the event and expressed his enthusiasm and gratitude. “We’re proud to expand our manufacturing footprint in the region and know it will benefit our entire European operation. Our combined engineering and manufacturing services and global footprint are closely aligned to our key markets to facilitate our ability to meet the rising demand for innovation across all industries. These strategic investments in our facilities, capabilities, and technologies also enhance our overall engineering and manufacturing strengths." This close collaboration between Almelo, Netherlands, and Brasov, Romania, offers customers the option to transition to a lower-cost mass production site, if desired, as part of the many options available within the Benchmark global network.
In addition to expanding physical space, Benchmark Brasov is actively recruiting to fill various roles, including technicians, machine operators, and electronic and mechanical engineers. This hiring initiative will further strengthen the local economy and provide valuable opportunities for the community. Benchmark also plans to deepen its ties with local universities by offering internships and work experience programs, thereby nurturing the next generation of engineers and technicians.
Herman Bartelink, Vice President of European operations at Benchmark, also addressed attendees and highlighted the collaborative efforts that made this expansion possible. “Today is a special moment for Benchmark Brasov as a lot of hard work and determination has gone into bringing this expansion online. I’d like to personally thank everyone in attendance today for contributing to this project. We can’t wait to show you what we offer.”
Celebrating this expansion is not just about physical expansion but about the people who made it possible. Benchmark extends heartfelt gratitude to all the employees whose dedication and hard work have brought this vision to life. Their relentless pursuit of excellence embodies our purpose: to innovate for a healthier, safer, and better-connected world to create a brighter future.
We invite you to visit Benchmark's Brasov webpage to learn more about Benchmark Brasov and explore the new site features.
