MANN+HUMMEL Expands North American Product Offerings
DETROIT, April 14 -- 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/ .
NOTE TO EDITORS: Society of Automotive Engineers - Congress and Exposition - April 11th - 14th, 2005, Cobo Hall, Booth 1726