05-06-23
A Happy Coincidence
Last year, KIRCHHOFF Automotive had already received numerous new orders for production in Mexico. However, neither the plant in Querétaro nor in Puebla had enough hall space at the time for the necessary expansion of capacity.
"Initially, we looked for suitable space near our plant in Querétaro and considered a larger extension," reports Piotr Tomaszewski, Vice President Manufacturing Engineering (ME) at KIRCHHOFF Automotive. However, since the available space in Querétaro only allowed for an expansion of just over 4,000 m², the Corporate ME team looked at alternative options near KIRCHHOFF Automotive's Mexican plant in Puebla.
"We were lucky, because by chance a suitable building became available just 100 m away and directly opposite the Puebla plant," says Piotr Tomaszewski.
In the planning phase, the teams in Mexico are working hand in hand to install equipment for the technologies resistance spot welding and arc welding there in accordance with our Lean standards, which ensure an optimal production flow. On these lines we will produce body-in-white parts and cross car beams for new customer programs. The goal is to get the building up and running on time in coordination with our customers' production schedules – production start is scheduled for June 2024.
Current plant in Querétaro. The Querétaro II plant is scheduled to start up in 2025, which will then include an e-coating line with the possibility of thick-film coating as well as preparations for a possible mild pickling process. The expected plant area will be 15,000 m².
