DETROIT, April 14 /PRNewswire/ -- MANN+HUMMEL, a major global leader in
filtration and supplier of automotive air and fluid management systems and
components, is expanding its product development, testing and manufacturing
operations in North America.
Claude Mathieu, president and chief executive officer of MANN+HUMMEL USA,
INC noted that MANN+HUMMEL is adding oil filter modules to its current product
mix, which includes intake manifolds, air cleaner systems, and coolant
reservoirs.
The company's Portage facility plays a major role in MANN+HUMMEL's North
American growth strategy. The plant, along with the South Bend, Ind., plant,
will launch 5 new product programs in 2005 for Ford, DaimlerChrysler, GM and
Toyota.
Expanded engineering support in Portage will benefit all of MANN+HUMMEL's
North American operations. The enhancements at Portage are part of the
investment that MANN+HUMMEL will make in North America in the next 3 years, on
both product development and manufacturing facilities, to expand its
filtration technology.
Growth also is taking place at MANN+HUMMEL's South Bend operation. In
addition to new OEM business, including an air/oil separator manufacturing
line, aftermarket warehouse, distribution, logistics and customer service were
also expanded in 2004.
A significant part of MANN+HUMMEL's North American growth plan also is
based on its new facilities in Queretaro, Mexico. Dating back to its first
facility in Mexico in 1991, the new plant is part of a commitment to grow
their NAFTA presence. The new Queretaro facility enables the company to
increase both OEM and aftermarket activities, with a special focus on
filtration production.
Four new filtration-product programs will get underway at its new
Queretaro, Mexico, operations in 2005: Two for VW, one for Ford and one for
General Motors. The company also has won contracts for additional business in
2006 and 2007 that will boost its North American sales and employment even
further. The company has also defined Queretaro as its NAFTA manufacturing
base for filters. A second air filter line was built in 2004. Further
investment in the production of large elements for heavy-duty products and
metal free liquid filters will be seen in 2005.
"We're encouraged by our continued success in North America," said
Mathieu. "The dedicated work force at our four North American locations has
helped us to provide an increasing variety of high quality components to North
American automakers."
Mathieu noted that significant productivity improvements have been
achieved through company wide use of 6-Sigma and Lean Manufacturing
methodologies at all MANN+HUMMEL facilities in the NAFTA region. Quality
ratings have improved by more than 200 percent to close to 30 ppm from around
the 100 ppm mark previously achieved.
The company's sales are on track to meet its North American sales goal of
$200 million by 2008 an increase of 13 percent in each of the next four years.
"The company's productivity improvements in North America last year were
in part due to an over $18 million investment in new equipment as well as an
all-new manufacturing plant in Mexico," Mathieu said.
MANN+HUMMEL, development partner and original equipment supplier for the
international automotive industry, now ranks third in sales of plastic
manifolds in the NAFTA region up from just a 5 percent share and a seventh-
place ranking as recently as three years ago.
Known for its product innovation and quality, MANN+HUMMEL exhibited a
variety of new or recently introduced technologies at this year's SAE World
Congress and Exposition (April 11-14) at Cobo Center in Detroit:
* The world's first North American manufactured fully plastic oil module,
was developed in partnership with a European automaker for a 2.5-liter 5-cyl.
gasoline engine.
* A synthetic plastic non-woven fleece oil filter cartridge.
* An HC element for a Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (PZEV) rated air
cleaner system with integrated beauty cover for North American vehicles.
* A secondary air charger developed for exhaust emission control.
* The world's first spindle-less oil centrifuge, that effectively removes
soot from lubricating oil in commercial diesel engines.
* A thermoplastic cylinder head cover module with integrated intake
manifold.
About MANN+HUMMEL
The MANN+HUMMEL Group is an international company. In 2004, the company
achieved sales of $1.6 billion. The MANN+HUMMEL Group currently employs
around 9,100 people at more than 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 series
production 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 GmbH
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Related links:
http://www.mann-hummel.com
CONTACT:
Company Contact - U.S.: Julie Mayuiers of
MANN+HUMMEL USA, Inc., +1-269-329-3903, E-mail:
julie.mayuiers@mann-hummel.com ; Company Contact - Worldwide:
Gabriele Jost of MANN+HUMMEL GmbH, +011 49 7141 98 2583, E-mail:
press@mann-hummel.com ; or Media Contact: Dan Criscenti of
AutoCom Associates, +1-248-647-8621, E-mail:
dcriscenti@usautocom.com , for MANN+HUMMEL
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