Mr Holstein, what makes HÖRMANN Automotive stand out from the competition?

HÖRMANN Automotive offers the customer a unique and wide range of products and processes. This range extends from low-volume production with many variants up to high-volume production.

We are characterised by demand-based processes – manual production processes as well as highly automated, linked production cells and lines. For example, we produce outer skin parts for large agricultural machinery in small batches and in large batches for light-duty commercial vehicles (LCV). 

Our flat hierarchies also facilitate quick decision-making. One example is our shopfloor management meetings at which we jointly discuss adaptation and change processes and then efficiently implement then. 

What distinguishes HÖRMANN Automotive from other suppliers? 

At HÖRMANN Automotive, we are very close to the customer and are cater to special requests. It is important to us that we fulfil this objective to the maximum. We need agile processes and flexible production for this purpose. We offer this by continuously adapting and further developing ourselves.

Our expertise built up over the last 60 years and the long-standing partnerships are important foundations in this connection. Our customers are mainly well-known OEMs such as MAN, Daimler, BMW or Porsche. We not only want to provide them with the desired products, but also create added value. Providing our customers with good advice already in the development phase is an integral part of our overall service. Ultimately what counts for the customer is the finished product in perfect quality and reliable delivery. A good end product requires a good initial process – that is where we come in.  

Furthermore, we are embedded in a strong group. The HÖRMANN Group is a stable structure and gives us the freedom to plan in the long term and benefit from synergy effects. One successful example of many is our 5L chassis, which we developed together with HÖRMANN Vehicle Engineering on behalf of SBB Cargo. 

What is the vision of HÖRMANN Automotive?

Our vision is quite clear: We want to be one of the leading suppliers of metallic components, modules and systems for the European commercial vehicle, agricultural machinery and automotive industries from the product idea up to installation. Our objective is to act as a manufacturer-independent system supplier with a fully functionally group of companies and development competence as well as our own production locations – on a global level.

And what are you already doing en route to this objective?

We offer sophisticated products at high quality and competitive prices thanks to continuous improvements in development, production and logistics. To further expand this position, we need to develop even more intensively in efficient technologies and also optimise the manufacturing footprint internationally. This is the only way that we can offer customers innovative, economic and sustainable solutions. 

For support, we have set up a company system with the name “HAUS 2.0”, which increases productivity and achieves greater competitiveness and profitability. “HAUS” stands for “Hörmann Automotive Unternehmens System” (Hörmann Automotive Enterprise System). All going by the motto: Operational excellence. The model is based on methods and processes that are optimally connected with each other. This creates a uniform and standardised system that can be implemented in an individual and customised manner. 

Let’s take a look at the diagram – what are the basic aspects in HAUS 2.0? 

The diagram shows three different rings. The outer ring lists all the required processes required to reach the centre. For this purpose, we have defined 10 elements with corresponding categories. The centre circle symbolises the methodical quality feedback loop – from policy development to sustainable implementation and continuous expansion to best-practice exchange and this both internally and externally. A superordinate process describes the benchmark level. Every year, all the companies in the HÖRMANN Group define their targets for the coming 12 months. The maturity level determination is carried out once a year. All in all, we at HÖRMANN Automotive are always committed to continually optimising ourselves and also practising what we preach in terms of the value “innovative spirit”. HAUS 2.0 creates the framework for this.

Ground-breaking auxiliary heater and stationary heater from our partner ReformTech

With the coming into force of the new Euro 6c/7 emission standard, the European automotive market is facing profound changes: To date, solely the emission levels were taken into account in the emission measurement of motor vehicles, without the share of emissions produced by other components. With the new standard, now the entire vehicle will be included in the emission measurement, and thus also the auxiliary heater, a component that compensates for the missing heat output from highly efficient engines. It is required to heat up the vehicle interior more quickly and to heat the exhaust gases so that the catalytic converter can work efficiently. However, conventional auxiliary heaters produce very high emissions and have intensive particulate matter emissions. With the new emission standard, automotive manufacturers must now act and use new, emission-reducing technologies.

ReformTech, a Swedish research and development company, was founded by a group of leading engineers from the automotive industry. They had recognised the potential, developed a suitable technology, invented a product and patented it. This technology is a global game-changer in terms of achieving sustainable combustion processes: The auxiliary heater developed by ReformTech achieves combustion that is up to 90% more efficient than conventional models and creates virtually no emissions. The market launch for the new auxiliary heater took place in 2015.

HÖRMANN as a partner of ReformTech

Together with ReformTech, we are developing this new product technology with the focus on industrialisation and a production- and assembly-compatible design. Furthermore, HÖRMANN Automotive in Wackersdorf will take over the production of the new auxiliary heater generation.

 
Advantages at a glance:

• Greater efficiency in comparison to previous auxiliary heaters (+ 90%)
• Virtually no emissions: No particulate, ultra-low emissions of CO, NOx and CO2.
• Compatibility with all fossil fuels and renewable fuels
• Controllable direction of thermal radiation
• Competitive product costs
• Extremely resistant and highly reliable
• For the OEMs: Significant installation space advantages

 
Scopes of application and usage:

• Preheating and auxiliary heating of engines, for the vehicle interior and the exhaust system
• Stationary heating, water heating for camper vans, etc.
• For the preheating of the battery and for thermal management in the case of cold starts and in the case of permanently low temperatures
• Key component for the overall thermal management to fulfil current and future emission regulations

Are you interested in this product?

You can find the contact details for HÖRMANN Automotive in Wackersdorf here.

We assume overall responsibility for the packaging and delivery of replacement parts, CKD components and kit solutions. This includes the packaging planning, coordination of the supply chain and on-time delivery. Thanks to intelligent packaging design, we create ideal cardboard boxes and containers to guarantee cycle times that are as fast as possible and high transport protection. The packaging of parts takes place in an order-related manner and in accordance with the highest quality standards. If desired, the replacement parts are provided together with operating instructions, add-on parts and small parts for installation at the dealer and delivered as a kit. The CKD parts and pre-assembled units for the foreign markets are packaged in special overseas containers and loaded in containers.

We deliver as per your desired delivery instructions via truck, railway train, maritime freight, air freight or, if desired, also directly to the dealers. We also complete the customs clearing of the goods for you for foreign shipments. Our partners for the local added value abroad are located in the USA, China, South Africa and Egypt.

Thanks to our in-house software, which calculates the optimal container utilisation for each delivery, and our many years of cooperation with our global network of innovative logistics partners, we can offer you this comprehensive complete package at favourable conditions.

 
Our range of services covers the following:

• Process planning
• Investment for the required systems and tools
• Packaging planning and development
• Procurement of components (alternatively provided by the customer) and packaging materials
• MRP of components and packaging materials 
• Transport coordination for all incoming goods
• Calculation of optimal container utilisation
• Packaging of the offer scope in replacement part or CKD packaging
• Monitoring of supply chain, supplier management, supplier development
• Change management for components
• Customs declaration and clearing
• Delivery of goods to suit customer requests, if necessary via partners to increase the local content level

Are you interested in this product?

You can find the contact details for HÖRMANN Automotive in Wackersdorf here.

Already today, we supply one of our customers with painted and pre-assembled side trim parts for harvesting machines that are delivered just-in-time to the main assembly line. In the future, this service is to be intensified and optimised. The most important success factors for this are customer proximity, communication and high logistical competence. We have made these characteristics our principles, and our employees stand for professional cooperation with our customers on a partnership basis.

 
Our range of services covers the following:

• Development and planning
• Prototyping
• Welding, riveting, adhesive bonding, edging, screwdriving
• Coating
• Final assembly

Are you interested in this product?

You can find the contact details for HÖRMANN Automotive in St. Wendel here.

Over the many years of cooperation, our customers have built up confidence in our expertise to the extent that they also hand over tasks to us that expand our range of services. The Manufacturing of Jigs & Fixtures area at Hörmann Automotive is an example of such cooperation. We plan and produce innovative jigs and fixtures by means of which the various different single parts of an end product or more complex components can be welded together in a dimensionally stable manner. We supply companies from various different sectors, including Mercedes-Benz, with customised overall solutions from the idea to acceptance by the customer and also produce the jigs and fixtures for our own requirements.

 
Our range of services covers the following:

• Consultation
• Planning/engineering
• Machining
• Assembly
• Quality assurance, i.e. function check and final inspection

Are you interested in this product?

You can find the contact details for HÖRMANN Automotive in Saarbrücken here.

Our latest product range involves the production of welded systems for agricultural machinery. For approximately four years now, we have been producing complete chassis for fertiliser spreaders/manure tanks and recently also for a forage harvester. In this connection, our range of services is rounded off by the production of the associated add-on systems – such as the supporting frame for the tank or the mount for the cab. The production of such complex systems necessitates close cooperation with our customers, who we support in the long term as part of quality improvements – as well as with regard to technical simplification.

 
Our range of services covers the following:

• Production of complete chassis
• Lasering, edging, welding and machining
• Painting
• Quality control
• Just-in-time delivery

Are you interested in this product?

You can find the contact details for HÖRMANN Automotive in Saarbrücken here.

We mainly produce axle-supporting chassis parts with differing degrees of complexity that we deliver directly – in welded assembly and welded component form – to the assembly line. All established robot and manual welding methods (MIG, MAG, TIG) are used and adapted to the material to be welded and customer requirements. Our state-of-the-art facilities guarantee that the customer is provided in each case with the optimal method for a high throughput rate with maximum quality and the lowest possible production costs.

 
Our range of services covers the following:

• Production of components and replacement parts in low-volume production 
• Use of all established robot and manual welding methods (MIG, MAG or TIG)
• Assembly
• Machining 
• Just-in-time or just-in-sequence delivery
• Weld-seam test
• Traceability
• Anti-corrosion coating in accordance with customer specification (e.g. cathodic dip painting)

Are you interested in this product?

You can find the contact details for HÖRMANN Automotive in Saarbrücken here.

We design products for very special requirements to suit the needs of our customers, who primarily come from agricultural and construction machinery technology. In the case of low to average unit figures, low tooling and process costs play an important role: Our employees have the required expertise to solve the conflict between tool and part prices so that the best possible result is achieved for our customers. Besides the usual bare or galvanised deep drawing steels, we are also experts when it comes to stainless steels, copper and aluminium. Sheet thicknesses of between 0.5 mm and 3 mm are formed as what are known as fine sheets. The wings for tractors and side trim parts for harvesting machines and tractors are given here as examples. However, we can also form thick plates of up to max. 8 mm, such as pedal levers, feed hoppers for harvesting machines and shields for exhaust systems. Presses with a pressing force of up to 16,000 kN are available for these tasks.

 
Our range of services covers the following:

• Development and planning
• Prototyping
• Pressing and forming of deep drawing steel, stainless steel, copper and aluminium
• Fine sheet: Sheet thicknesses of 0.5-3 mm
• Thick plate: Sheet thicknesses of max. 8 mm
• Pressing with a pressing force of up to 16,000 kN

Are you interested in this product?

You can find the contact details for HÖRMANN Automotive in St. Wendel here.