DETROIT, March 4 /PRNewswire/ -- MANN+HUMMEL, a major Tier One automotive
supplier based in Ludwigsburg, Germany, plans to more than double its North
American sales and manufacturing operations by 2010.
Attending the 2003 SAE World Congress here March 3-6, the company's CEO
Dr. Dieter Seipler said MANN+HUMMEL plans major expansions of its
manufacturing operations in both the United States and Mexico. The company
also expects its U.S. sales of nearly $120 million to double by 2010.
Claude Mathieu, president and CEO of MANN+HUMMEL's North American
operations, said the company is studying plans for an expansion in injection
molding operations in South Bend, IN, with the possible addition of two new
assembly lines by 2004. A similar expansion study is underway at the
company's facilities in Tlalnepantla, Mexico. U.S. expansion plans include
the possible development and installation of new state-of-the-art blow-molding
technology, including 3-D manipulation and suction blow-molding processes that
will enable the company to produce complex, integrated air-induction systems
for customers in North America.
MANN+HUMMEL's blow-molded components have captured a 10 to 14 percent
share of the European market for automotive air-induction products.
Industry production of intake and exhaust ducts in Europe last year alone
totaled nearly $47-million dollars. The company has blow-molding production
facilities in France, Germany, the U.K. and Spain.
"Our goal is to bring market-leading technology to customers in North
America, while at the same time moving toward the development of more
integrated product designs in both Europe and the U.S.," Seipler said. "The
acquisition of Solvay's air induction and technical parts business last year
is helping us to become a significant player in North America, not only in the
passenger-car and light-truck segment, but in the heavy-truck sector as well."
According to Mathieu, MANN+HUMMEL's North American growth strategy is
based on several factors, including:
* Expanded Product Lines -- The company's Solvay acquisition has helped
expand its share of the intake-manifold market. In addition, the company is
aggressively pursuing OEM supply agreements for air and fuel filtration and
air-intake components and systems, as well as oil-filtration components and
modules.
* Growth of Current OEM Business -- Ford was MANN+HUMMEL's first North
American customer and the company continues to expand its Ford business with
innovative new products and technology.
* New OEM Customers -- MANN+HUMMEL is actively pursuing and winning
business from other major OEMs, including General Motors and Chrysler. The
company also is aggressively seeking potential business from several European
and Asia-Pacific auto manufacturers with transplant operations in North
America.
* Introduction of New Technology -- The company has a variety of
innovative products with significant market potential in N.A., including a
recyclable, metal-free plastic oil module which it already supplies in high
volumes to European OEMs. The company's plastic-blow-molding technology will
lead to a variety of new product offerings as well.
* Mexican Manufacturing Capability -- The company plans to expand and
further leverage its manufacturing capabilities in Mexico to supply OEMs with
assembly operations there as well as elsewhere in North America. The company
currently produces air-intake and air-cleaning systems in Mexico, and next
year plans a further expansion of its production capacity there.
* Component Integration and Modularization -- MANN+HUMMEL is aggressively
pursuing a modular, integrated approach to the design of future products. Its
new product designs result in weight and cost savings, and also reduce OEM
assembly costs and improve overall quality. For example, a new cartridge-
filter module integrates several oil-system functions, including an oil-bypass
circuit and filter-pressure monitor. The module, already used by several
European OEMs, is simply attached to the engine.
"Our oil cartridge-filter module is just one example of the new, modular
approach we're taking with many of our future product designs," Mathieu said.
"Everything is there. You just plug in water hoses and electrical connections
and you're ready to go.
"It demonstrates how we can use our experience with component integration
to provide real savings and value to the customer. It's an important key to
new business in North America."
Mathieu noted that the company recently had expanded its Detroit sales and
program management facilities to better serve its OEM customers. At more than
9,000-square feet, the new offices are more than double the size of
MANN+HUMMEL's previous facilities.
About MANN+HUMMEL
The MANN+HUMMEL Group is an international company. In 2002, the company
achieved sales of approximately $1.1 billion. The MANN+HUMMEL Group currently
employs around 9,500 people at 41 locations worldwide. The company develops,
produces and sells technically complex automotive components such as air
filter systems, intake manifold systems, liquid filter systems and cabin
filters for the automotive industry, and filter elements for vehicle servicing
and repair. For general engineering, process engineering and industrial
manufacturing sectors the company's product range includes industrial filters,
filter systems, and materials handling systems and equipment. MANN+HUMMEL's
customers come from a large number of sectors, with OEM supply for the
automotive industry occupying a key position. Further information about
MANN+HUMMEL can be found under http://www.mann-hummel.com .
SOURCE MANN+HUMMEL AUTOMOTIVE, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.mann-hummel.com
CONTACT:
Company Contact - U.S.: Julie Morey of
MANN+HUMMEL AUTOMOTIVE, Inc., +1-248-857-8515, E-mail:
jmorey@mannhummelauto.com , Company Contact - Worldwide: Gabriele
Jost of FILTERWERK MANN+HUMMEL GMBH, +011 49 7141 98 2583,
E-mail: info@mann-hummel.com ; or Media Contact: Larry Weis of
AutoCom Associates, +1-248-647-8621, E-mail: lweis@usautocom.com
, for MANN+HUMMEL AUTOMOTIVE, Inc.
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