Fiat Auto South Africa (FASA) has just been awarded a contract to supply 10,000 exhaust heat shields per month to Fiat’s Cassino plant near Naples, Italy where the all-new mid-sized Croma is now being built. Production starts with immediate effect and will last the duration of the Croma’s lifecycle.

Rosslyn, South Africa-based supplier, Rieter Feltex, has commenced production of the aluminium exhaust heat shields which, as the name suggests, insulates the cabin from heat emanating from the exhaust system. The shields are fitted exclusively to diesel versions of the new Croma. Financially speaking, the new deal worth some R200 million, will boost FASA’s annual export turnover by more than 12 percent, placing the company at the top end of the OEM component exporters.
 

Currently FASA exports catalytic converters and it is the sole supplier of stitched leather seat covers for the Alfa Romeo 147 and 156 ranges. Now, with the heat shields, the company is further entrenching its position as a major exporter by diversifying the type of component it exports. Within the next few weeks, FASA will be making some further announcements about additional, major export contracts.