Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • European Rubber Journal
  • Plastics News
  • Tire Business
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • Tire
    • Airless Tires
    • Non-Tire
    • More News
    • Suppliers
    • Silicone
    • Latex
    • Technical Notebooks
    • Opinion
    • Online Exclusive
    • Special Reports
    • Automotive
    • Executive Action
    • Government/Legal
    • Sustainability
    • Blogs
      • Products
      • Wacky World of Rubber
    • PFAS
    • Best Places to Work
    • War in Ukraine
    • International Tire Exhibition & Conference
    • Women Breaking the Mold
  • Rubber Division IEC
  • Custom
    • Sponsored Content
    • White Papers
  • Resources
    • Directory
    • Classifieds & Mold Mart
  • Data
  • Events
    • RN Events
    • RN Livestreams/Webinars
    • Industry Events
    • Past Events
    • Rubber News M&A Live
    • PFAS Live
    • Ask the Expert
    • International Tire Exhibition & Conference (ITEC)
    • Women Breaking the Mold Networking Forum
  • Advertise
  • DIGITAL EDITION
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
September 11, 2015 02:00 AM

Henniges to expand in three countries

Chris Sweeney
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    An artist's rendering of Henniges' 323,000-sq.-ft. plant in Gomez Palacio, Mexico. It will be the company's largest plant in Mexico.

    AUBURN HILLS, Mich.—Henniges Automotive Holdings Inc. is expanding in all major regions of the world.

    The firm broke ground on a new manufacturing facility in Gomez Palacio, Mexico, its fourth in the country. It also will open a new office in Munich and a technical and tooling center in Beijing.

    The 323,000-sq.-ft. factory in Mexico is expected to be operational by 2016, will support six vehicle platforms and is expected to employ 1,200. The firm said it will be its largest facility in the country and second largest worldwide.

    Henniges did not disclose financial details on any of the expansions.

    “Mexico is a very attractive region for automotive suppliers,” said Boris Gavric, vice president of global sales and marketing. “It's projected to be the sixth largest automotive market by 2020. Our key OEMs are expanding; our traditional customer base is expanding in Mexico. You've got GM, Nissan, Honda, Mazda, Mercedes and BMW all announcing new or expanded facilities. They're adding capacity, and it's a very stable, employer-friendly environment.”

    Gavric said Henniges is growing at more than 20 percent year-over-year in Mexico and that today, original equipment manufacturers launch 11 percent of NAFTA programs in Mexico. That figure is expected to reach 42 percent by 2020.

    The new Mexico facility will produce a variety of automotive sealing systems—including dynamic beltline and glass run seals—as well as anti-vibration systems, such as bushings, exhaust-hanger systems and center bearings, that are fitted to an automobile's drive and powertrain, chassis and suspension.

    The firm currently operates three other facilities in Mexico—in Torreon, Guadalajara, and another in Gomez Palacio—and Gavric said Henniges pro-jects to employ about 3,000 in the country by 2018. All three produce sealing systems, with the fourth being the first to produce anti-vibration systems in the country. Each facility is equipped with a technical and research and development center, with the new one following suit.

    Like the other three plants, the new Gomez Palacio facility will produce automotive parts utilizing EPDM or thermoplastic elastomers through extrusion, molding and other manufacturing techniques.

    Henniges said Gomez Palacio provides a central location and a large population of highly skilled workers with numerous universities and technical institutes. Gavric said the state government of Durango worked with the firm closely and has supported Henniges in its expansion efforts.

    “There are a lot of universities, technical institutes in the area with very highly skilled workers,” he said. “It's an ideal area for us. The universities have worked with us to provide the technical skill that we need. We have a very synergetic relationship with that community.”

    Overseas projects

    The 14,000-sq.-ft. technical center in China will provide testing and validation of parts as well as in-house product design, development and tooling capabilities. It is projected to create 60 jobs by 2019 and include advanced testing equipment.

    The firm currently operates five manufacturing facilities in China—Beijing, Changchun, Chengdu, Tianjin and Tieling.

    “We really have a long-term vision in China,” Gavric said. “We believe the activities that are happening now are just a right-sizing. We believe the penetration rate of vehicles per people has a lot of room for growth. Our customers are still investing there, and we believe at this time it was the right step to invest in a technical center there.”

    Henniges' office in Munich will house a number of managers and engineers to support BMW programs. Gavric said the firm projects to create up to 10 jobs at the new office. It currently operates two manufacturing facilities and three technical centers at four European sites—in Viersen and Rehburg-Loccum, Germany; and Mlada Boeslav and Hranice, Czech Republic.

    “Globally, we're looking at any opportunity we have to better and more closely support our customer needs,” Gavric said.

    Headquartered in Auburn Hills, Henniges provides automotive original equipment manufacturers with sealing systems for doors, windows, trunks, lift gates, sunroofs and hoods. It also supplies the automotive market with anti-vibration products, encapsulated glass and other rubber components. It operates facilities in North America, Europe and China, and has a work force of more than 7,100.

    Related Articles
    Chinese firm could pursue Henniges acquisition
    Henniges breaks ground on expansion in Mexico
    Equity firm sells Henniges
    Henniges CEO takes top job at Chassix
    Henniges to open first plant in Poland
    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Rubber News wants to hear from its readers. If you want to express your opinion on a story or issue, email your letter to Editor Bruce Meyer at [email protected].

    Most Popular
    1
    Merger: Tipco Technologies, HydraTech join forces for hose distribution
    2
    Consumer Reports: EVs are far less reliable than ICE
    3
    Kumho, Synthos partner on neodymium-butadiene rubber
    4
    EPA targets hazardous emissions from tire rubber mixing
    5
    Watch: Continental all-in with simulation in tire development
    SIGN UP FOR NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Get our newsletters

    Staying current is easy with Rubber News delivered straight to your inbox, free of charge.

    Subscribe Today

    Subscribe to Rubber News to get the best coverage and leading insights in the industry.

    SUBSCRIBE
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    MISSION

    To serve companies in the global rubber product industry by delivering news, industry insights, opinions and technical information.

    Contact Us

    2291 Riverfront Pkwy, Suite 1000
    Cuyahoga Falls,
    OH 44221

    Customer Service:
    877-320-1726

    Resources
    • About Us
    • Digital Edition
    • Staff
    • Advertise
    • Order Reprints
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    • Terms of Service
    • Careers
    • Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Partner Sites
    • Tire Business
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Plastics News
    • Urethanes Technology
    • Automotive News
    • Crain Brands
    Copyright © 1996-2023. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • Tire
      • Airless Tires
      • Non-Tire
      • More News
        • Automotive
        • Executive Action
        • Government/Legal
        • Sustainability
        • Blogs
          • Products
          • Wacky World of Rubber
      • Suppliers
      • Silicone
      • Latex
      • Technical Notebooks
      • Opinion
      • Online Exclusive
      • Special Reports
        • PFAS
        • Best Places to Work
        • War in Ukraine
        • International Tire Exhibition & Conference
        • Women Breaking the Mold
    • Rubber Division IEC
    • Custom
      • Sponsored Content
      • White Papers
    • Resources
      • Directory
      • Classifieds & Mold Mart
    • Data
    • Events
      • RN Events
        • International Tire Exhibition & Conference (ITEC)
        • Women Breaking the Mold Networking Forum
      • RN Livestreams/Webinars
      • Industry Events
      • Past Events
      • Rubber News M&A Live
      • PFAS Live
      • Ask the Expert
    • Advertise
    • DIGITAL EDITION