Taking full responsibilty HAVD Group

engine industry with some 65,000 employees at 140 production locations.

For Letrika, this means that it will now be able to take advantage of important production synergies with the group and use its know-how to develop its business on all its existing global markets. The company’s management has also pointed out that the two organisations, whilst different in size, share similar strategies which include a focus on e-mobility and green technologies.

Production profile

Letrika offers a wide product range covering the production, development and sale of starters, alternators, electric drive and mechatronic systems. They are split into three core groups: engine rotating electrics; electric drive systems and mechatronic systems. Its customers are some of the biggest global producers in the agriculture, construction, automotive and many other industries.

In the area of engine rotating electrics, Letrika produces starter motors and alternators for vehicles with internal combustion engines. The technical performance and characteristics of these products are the result of long-term relationships with manufacturers of internal combustion engines, in order to meet their high requirements and expectations. High operating reliability is assured by a continuous optimisation of the design for use in different operating conditions.

When it comes to electric drive systems the product range includes: DC e-motors/ generators; BLPM e-motors/generators; AC e-motors/generators; electronic control units (ECUs); conversion kits; solenoid switches and various accessories. By producing many different types of electric motors, corresponding controllers and other elements such as graphic display and master CAN controllers, Letrika is able to offer its customers complete battery supplied drive systems. They are mainly used as traction systems, electrically assisted steering systems, hydraulic pump drive systems and so on.

Letrika’s mechatronics systems include motors for electric powered steering, motors and controllers for air and hydrogen blowers and motors for water and other liquid pumps. Finally, it should be noted that a large percentage of the group’s R&D efforts when it comes to new product development are focused on exploiting renewable energy sources. The fields it focuses on here are e-mobility, efficient energy use and solar and wind energy.

A strong partner

In addition to the production companies mentioned above, Letrika is also involved in three separate joint-ventures. Two of these – Letrika Lab d.o.o. and Letrika Sol d.o.o. – are in Slovenia. These focus respectively on R&D for power motors and the manufacture of green technologies, particularly solar micro inverters.

The third joint-venture, Letrika Roots, was established in 2013 in India with its business partner Roots Industries India Ltd – a manufacturer of various electrical products. In March this year it announced its plans to start the manufacture of a selection of starters and alternators for the OE and aftermarket for a number of different automotive segments in India, exploring potential markets such as those for agricultural tractors, trucks, buses and construction equipment.

Letrika is also well-known as a reliable partner for its many long-term customers. In April this year it signed an important

five-year agreement with the German global corporation Deutz to supply it with a wide range of products, alternators and starter motors adapted to meet its specific needs. This is a particularly significant achievement for the Letrika Group as it will open up new possibilities in China for its second largest production company, Letrika Suzhou, as Deutz already has a strong presence here.

A company spokesperson explained how the company is able to maintain strong relationships with its global customers: “In order to supply the global automotive industry, it is imperative that you hold a number of highly regulated quality certificates, such as the ISO 19001, ISO 14001 and the TS 16949. We have all these, of course, plus a large R&D department that ensures all our products are of the very latest capabilities and highest quality. Furthermore, we always work with our clients to design and develop products that meet their exact needs, with 100 per cent testing way in advance of any launch.” n

Henkel operates worldwide with leading brands and technologies in three business areas: • Laundry & Home Care • Beauty Care • Adhesive Technologies

Henkel offers innovative products and reliable brands in all business sectors. Adhesives, Sealants and Functional Coatings from Henkel serve the automotive transportation, electronics, aerospace, metal, durable goods, consumer goods, maintenance and repair and packaging industries, and offer a broad range of products for the craftsman and consumer.

As the global leader in adhesives, sealants and functional coatings technologies for the automotive industry, Henkel creates competitive advantages for its customers along the entire value chain of car manufacturing. It partners with customers right from the start, so that it understands their needs and develops tailored solutions – for today and tomorrow.

Henkel offers products for the forging and pressure die casting of parts, together with products for machining and ultimately for sealing porous materials. Its BONDERITE L-MR xyz machining product can reduce waste and save money on tooling, product usage and service additives.

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Exterior HQ -Gothenburg

TAKING FULL RESPONSIBILITY

The Swedish manufacturer of interior parts and trimmings to the global vehicle industry HAVD Group offers a full service solution to customers across the automotive, marine and rail markets. Emma-Jane Batey spoke to CEO Bjorn Hedenberg to learn more.

Based in Gothenburg, Sweden, HAVD Group develops, manufactures and supplies interior parts to the vehicle industry worldwide. Offering front and rear seating, interior trims, instrument panels, surface materials and accessories, HAVD Group produces and provides a complete service to its customers. It also offers interiors for trains, including driver cabins, dining cars and passenger cars for rail-bound vehicles.

A centralised company with all its services under one roof, HAVD Group operates production sites in Sweden and Hungary which take responsibility for products from concept to finished article. CEO Bjorn Hedenberg spoke to Industry Europe to explain how the company’s product portfolio and centralised organisation delivers the best service to cus-

Milling Vacuum forming

Exterior Novus

tomers. Mr Hedenberg said, “HAVD Group has a number of unique benefits that we pass on to our customers; as a large, centralised organisation we maintain strong control over every aspect of our production, from first concept right up to deliver to our customers, yet we also have the advantages of a smaller company with the ability to plan carefully and be totally efficient.”

This focus on taking responsibility across every aspect of the business and the products manufactured is identified by Mr Hedenberg as being a key differentiator for HAVD Group. He continued, “Our values are all about giving and taking responsibility, working with openness and having high ethics. Being responsible is the watchword in HAVD Group’s ethical guidelines and remains our most important promise, both to our customers and to our employees.”

Sewing and assembly Quality first

HAVD Group puts quality first and strives for continuous improvement. Its product development division conducts advanced product development for its active markets, primarily the automotive market but also trains, trucks and buses, with experienced engineers and designers creating products that meet the customer’s precise needs. Mr Hedenberg added, “We regularly upgrade our training as well as using the very latest tools in 3D Cad systems and FEM analysis. We use Catia V5, SolidWorks, Alias, C-Max and other packages and can work on customers’ sites or from our in-house engineering lab.”

Specialised experience

In Gothenburg, HAVD Group also operates a machine shop specialising in sheet metal and mechanical assemblies. The workshop is fully equipped to handle everything from welding, bending and moulding as well as developing prototypes and test parts in single bars or mini-series. Capable of working