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TMG Automotive was awarded as Company of the Year by the Excellens Oeconomia’s, an initiative held by Negócios newspaper and PwC. In this year’s edition, the People of the Year award was given to Leonor Beleza, the Champalimaud Foundation’s president.
TMG Automotive is the technological side of the TMG textile group, led by Isabel Furtado, the granddaughter of the founder, Manuel Gonçalves. With a turnover of more than 100 million euros, the company has more than 20 patents, own or in partnership, and in its list of customers are brands like BMW, Mercedes, Volvo Cars, Opel, Toyota, Jaguar, Porsche or Maserati. In 2009, the its three largest customers were Opel (27%), Toyota (24%) and KIA (11%).
To Negocios newspaper, Isabel Furtado underlined that the key factors for TMG Automotive’s growth were “the right people, cutting-edge technology and a well-focused strategy.” TMG Automotive now ranks second, with 18%, on the European market of interior coating materials for the automotive industry, in a universe of seven companies. The market leader has more than 60%.
In January, the companies’ new 25,000 square meter plant started its operations. It was an investment of 52.5 million euros from TMG Automotive and 6.9 million from TMG Fabrics.
With the new factory take-off, there company hold now 614 jobs, with women predominating at senior management. Of the 77 collaborators with higher education (undergraduate, masters and four doctorates), 45 are female.
One of the key aspects of TMG Automotive’s success has been innovation and R&D (research and development) investment. The company invests 4% to 6% of its turnover in research and has several patents, some with clients such as BMW, Daimler and Toyota, as well as with Portuguese universities and institutes.