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Aiming for larger volumes Ajkai Elektronikai
AIMING FOR LARGER VOLUMES
Ajkai Elektronikai Kft and AE-Plasztik Kft are two Hungarian manufacturing firms which have been operating with great success in the past decades mainly as a result of a strong long-term relationship with one prominent partner. Recovering well from the recession, now both firms have begun to widen their customer base and aim to meet large volume production needs. Edina Beale investigates.
Privatised by Hungarian private investors in 1992, the electronics manufacturer unit of the formerly state owned Videoton company changed its name to Kvattro Zrt and began to search for new business. Despite forming a significant supplier relationship with the Japanese company Suzuki, Kvattro was operating unsuccessfully, so in 1996 the owner group, Műszertechnika Holding Zrt, decided to make a fresh start and established Ajkai Elektronikai Kft to manufacture only the most marketable products. By 2008 the company’s staff numbers increased from 300 to 690 and its turnover from 500 million to 7500 million HUF. A strategic decision was made again in 2008 to separate the plastic division, and as a result AE-Plasztik Kft was established whilst Ajkai Elektronikai Kft continued with the production of metal products.
Metal parts for automotive industry
Today Ajkai Elektronikai Kft (AE) employs 330 people and last year turnover reached 3.7 billion HUF. The company is an expert in cold forming and stamping with excenter and hydraulic presses up to 600 tonnes, and is engaged in spot and CO welding, galvanisation surface treatment and mechanical assembly activities. These modern technologies are used to manufacture parts including car bodies and chassis, door hinges, petrol door covers, steering wheel adjusting assemblies and mechanics for seat adjusting for various clients in the automotive industry.
AE has been supplying Suzuki for the past 20 years and the company’s technological investments have been continuously adjusted to satisfy the needs and requirements of this key client. Recently 230 million HUF has been invested to manufacture tools for 30 different parts being developed for Suzuki’s new S-Cross model, which came out in the middle of 2013. “Our most important client is Magyar Suzuki Zrt, whom we have served as suppliers since 1992,” says Mr József Lautner, managing director of AE. “We continuously extend the number of products to all their models, which reassures us that we have a good position with them. This is achieved by reliable delivery, good quality and flexible cooperation. These strengths, however, are not enough; we must develop our technology continuously in order to compete with many of our rivals in this sector.” The company intends to increase the number of automated stamping machines and purchase a new CO welding facility based on robotics. Plans also include the installation of a robot feeder for the stamping machines and the modernisation of the storage system.
Currently 92 per cent of production is distributed in Hungary. However, an increase in exports is expected as a result of a strong link with Fuji Koyo to whose Czech plant AE supplies steering wheel adjusting mechanisms. Also, as a result of a recent agreement with Johnson Controls, a global supplier of automotive industries, AE is now focusing on manufacturing more compound products in large volumes for its European plants too, as Mr Lautner confirms: “Our aim is to carry out current proposals in good quality and on time.
We must also continue with our developments that focus on efficiency and quality improvement. In the long term, however, we wish to start large volume production for new partners and build more complex product structures by developing their technology.”
Plastic auto parts
Since its separation from Ajkai Electronics, AE Plasztik Kft has been operating very successfully. In the past five years the company’s staff number increased from 220 to 320 and it more than doubled its turnover, currently achieving 4 billion HUF.
The company is equipped with up-todate technologies to carry out plastic injection moulding, tampo printing, electronics assembly and stamping activities. It targets the automotive sector with products such as internal and external handles, seat adjusting pieces, steering switches and plastic parts for potentiometers, switches, and connectors for the electromechanical sector.
Product development is an ongoing process at AE Plasztik. Currently 40 different plastic parts and their tools are being developed to supply Johnson Controls and Suzuki. Seven modern plastic injection moulding machines worth 150 million were installed for the new projects. The factory has also completed an energy rationalisation development programme whilst modernising their premises for 40 million HUF. Future plans include the replacement of outdated machinery for plastic production and building a new state-of-the-art warehouse.
According to managing director of AE Plasztik, Mr László Kersner, the company’s success is due to its good quality products, prompt delivery and relatively cheap prices. The exceptional networking ability of the project managers is of special value to compete with rival companies. Currently the company exports products mainly to the UK, Slovakia, Germany and Slovenia and Mr Kersner is optimistic about the future: “We are hoping to enhance our large volume production from a few hundred thousand to a million pieces with Johnson Controls. Another objective is to increase business with Sumitomo from the current five to 15 per cent. In addition, we intend to provide more added value products for all our customers.” n
H-8308 Zalahaláp (Hungary) Petőfi t tér 3. Tel.: +36 87 510-049 Fax: +36 87 510-048 Email: csavariakft@t-online.hu
Csavária Kft. is a specialist in the production and distribution of screws, fasteners and parts. The company has been operating since 1992 and is located in Hungary, Zalahaláp, Industry Park. In accordance with the requirements of more rapidly developing technology, we also produce specialist parts for the automotive industry, including companies Ajkai Elektronikai Kft and AE Plasztik Kft. Csavária Kft. makes other specialist components too that are used in the agriculture, vehicle, building and tram industries. As well as production, we also pursue a wholesale business for standardised fasteners with a 500 ton stock warehouse and we are ISO 9001 quality assured.
