TAUNUSSTEIN-WINGSBACH, GERMANY (June 15, 12:15 p.m. ET) -- A German manufacturer of metallic finished plastic automotive parts has announced it is expanding its operations in the Czech Republic.

Fischer GmbH & Co. KG, based in Taunusstein-Wingsbach, plans to begin work on a project to double the size of one of its two Czech plants in Liberec from 140,000 square meters to 280,000 square meters.

The firm is reported to be building a new production hall, warehouse and offices at the site. Work was due to start in the second quarter of 2012. Fischer is expected to increase its plant workforce to 212.

The German group’s Czech business, Galvanoplast Fischer Bohemia, opened its first electroplating plant in the northern Bohemia region in 1999 to serve Eastern Europe. It added a second operation in 2009 to meet growing demand from the region.

Fischer has two plants in Germany, one focused on injection molding at Seelbach and the second electroplating in Katzenelnbogen. It produces components, modules and complete systems for the automotive, sanitary, medical engineering and electrical industries.

The group operates a total of 30 plastics injection molding machines ranging from 20 to 400 tons.