SPECIALIST FOR GAS SPRINGS, SHOCK ABSORBERS AND ELECTRIC ACTUATORS Project Partners
FROM GERMANY TO MEXICO, AND THE
WORLD
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THE MANUFACTURING OPERATION CREATED BY STABILUS IN MEXICO IS ONLY SECOND BEST TO ITS GERMAN HEADQUARTERS, SERVING NUMEROUS INDUSTRIES WORLDWIDE
fter opening during 1934 at Koblenz, Germany, as a family operated business, Stabilus’ product portfolio is constantly growing at the same pace as its quality, increasing the number of products and activities supported by the company’s premiere line of gas struts, springs and hydraulic vibration dampers, among other products. Stabilus’ leadership takes the company’s products to 90% of the global auto market, and also into furniture and vehicles used in specialised sectors. Stabilus delivers a yearly count of 220mn gas struts to 22,000 clients globally, making the company the world’s largest supplier for these goods. On May 2015, the company launched its IPO in the Frankfurt Stock Exchange at €42 per share (slightly over US$49), and on 22 September of this year, each share reached a price of €77 (US$90).
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Stabilus Production
The Stabilus Mexican flagship The company opened a production plant in Mexico back in 1992 in the city of Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, border with Texas, USA. Two years later, this plant moved to Ramos Arizpe, Coahuila, less than 200 miles from the border location they still use as a gate to the US and the rest of NAFTA territory. Stabilus Mexico is the company’s second most important operation worldwide and it’s currently certified under ISO:14001
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environmental standards, ISO:16949 automotive standards and OHSAS:18001 occupational hazard and safety standards. “We are Stabilus’ second largest production plant, we sell more than 17mn gas struts annually, which adds to more than 29% of the group’s figures globally,” says Lorenzo Dávila, Sales Director at Stabilus Mexico. Slightly more than half of Dávila’s 28-year career in the automotive industry has been productively spent at Stabilus. Dávila, an industrial
“During the last 15 years we haven’t had any foreign Stabilus employees in our staff” – Lorenzo Dávila, Sales Director at Stabilus, S.A. de C.V.
engineering graduate from ITESM’s Saltillo campus (Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education) worked in different positions for Magna International both in Mexico and abroad in locations such as Shanghai (China), Yakarta (Indonesia) and Detroit (USA). Dávila is also a
professor at Universidad La Salle (Saltillo campus), and he’s president of the PROEMPLEO non-profit. “I consider myself a perpetual rookie due to my eagerness to keep learning. I’m always keen to acquire knowledge,” the executive said.
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In TS Tecno we lead the market with solutions to protect steel components against friction and corrosion wear, combining high technology and experience in thermochemical treatments and PVD coatings. We are a partnership between TECNOTRAT and HEF Durferrit that seeks to satisfy the expectations of our customers as a fundamental part of our daily activity.
Global presence within specific sectors Throughout the years, Stabilus’ product portfolio has grown into four main divisions: · The automotive industry, mainly in vehicles’ hoods and trunks. · Chairs and commercial furniture, which includes office and kitchen furnishings. · The industrial division
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encompasses a wide array of applications, mainly for off-highway vehicles (construction, agriculture), aerospace, and other activities for clients such as Caterpillar, John Deere and Volvo, to name a few. · POWERISE, the spindle drive for single and double-sided applications is a Stabilus trademark since the beginnings of automatic lid drives. This feature is supplied exclusively to the
1,500 Employees at Stabilus, S.A. de C.V.
automotive industry for clients such as BMW, FCA, FORD, GM and TESLA. Stabilus products manufactured in Mexico find the following markets: · 34% head to Europe. · 31% are distributed in NAFTA territory (North America Free Trade Agreement between
Canada, Mexico and USA). · 17% are sent to Asia. · 15% in other countries. It’s remarkable that a high number of supplies sent from Stabilus Mexico to Asia end up in manufacturing plants located in China, where Stabilus already has two other
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“One of our most important assets is having our production machinery and equipment designed at the Stabilus headquarters in Germany. All the technology is deployed to every other manufacturing facility globally” – Lorenzo Dávila, Sales Director at Stabilus, S.A. de C.V.
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production facilities. “Our clients in the automotive industry trust and rely on the high quality and service we provide,” Dávila explains.
companies have resulted in Stabilus becoming a supplier in vibration systems, noise reduction control and damping,” Dávila says.
Growth through strategic acquisitions Stabilus’ product portfolio and reach have been increased by the acquisition of four key players in the trade: Fabreeka, Ace Distributors, Tech Products, and Hahn, which was once part of the competition. “The acquisition of these
Global resources “One of our most important assets is having our production machinery and equipment designed at the Stabilus headquarters in Germany. All the technology is deployed to every other manufacturing facility globally,” Dávila adds. The Mexican operation is also
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supported by an SAP CRM and by STAB3P proprietary software, involved in every new product release and re-engineering in Stabilus’ four divisions. For foreign trade purposes, Stabilus Mexico recurs to COFIDI software, supplied by PRODESA. Innovation and improvement Recent developments by Stabilus include a gas-filled damper used mostly in the solar power industry, a new business sector benefitted by the support of the company’s products. Stabilus Mexico also produces the new Federbine device, used in SUVs; and the PTCV (temperature compensation valve) guarantees trunks working properly when weather is under 41ºF. Developing local sourcing Stabilus has a long-term plan with punctual goals set to become fulfilled between 2020 and 2025. One of the top priorities is to increase domestic sourcing, serving such purposes as reducing order delivery times, obtaining lower costs and increasing domestic contents in final products,
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thus improving local business. A very important step to achieve this goal was taken two years ago, with the creation of the Purchasing Manager for NAFTA Territory position, in charge of developing domestic sourcing, helping local vendors comply with quality standards required by Stabilus. Currently, the main focus in this area is reducing delivery times, an improvement area after most supplies had to be conveyed from Germany. “A stocked domestic sourcing roster will increase our competitiveness in the industrial and automotive divisions. The support of a NAFTA territory PM is a very interesting step for Stabilus, since our operation in Mexico is already developing domestic suppliers and making decisions,” Dávila explains. The “Attractive Employer” goal Since 2013, Stabilus engaged in a program able to position the company in the “Attractive Employer” rankings. Human capital became a main focus since Dietmar Siemsen became CEO for Stabilus globally. From the company’s HQ in Germany,
Anthony Haba President of NAFTA Territory for Stabilus
Stabilus sought for a specialised consulting firm, which worked on the company from the principle of counting with the right individual at the right moment in the right place. “Our global CEO is the kind of leader that earns trust and respect from those under his leadership. He possesses very clear vision, and we developed the conviction to follow him,” Dávila elaborates. This involved scouting new talent and, before that, making Stabilus an attractive employer, able to sense every position’s necessities and
requirements, and able to create optimal development plants for every employee. Stabilus is also a partaker when employees need a flexible schedule and/or financial support to enroll in college or to finish different educational levels. Achievements in company culture are evident already, climbing up to ninth from 18th in the best company rankings for the highly industrial State of Coahuila, just south of Texas, USA. Also, just last September, the
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Dietmar Siemssen Global CEO of Stabilus
company brought deserved recognition to more than 70 employees with 20-year plus seniority, and its payroll currently boasts several second-generation employees. “This is a result of the place we’ve earned in our community, where a family’s second generation considers Stabilus as good employment option,” Dávila says.
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Bonds with the community The talent development process has led Stabilus Mexico to work hand in hand with CONACYT (National Council of Science and Technology) as well as with colleges and universities in the Saltillo, Coahuila area by opening internships and opportunities for students from different subjects such as foreign trade and engineering.
Also, in an effort to reach out to distressed communities, the HR department at Stabilus Mexico created a campaign to benefit affected communities in the State of Oaxaca after last September’s earthquakes; for every wage (per hour) donated by company employees, the company would double that amount. “We collected a very important amount of money which the Rotary Club’s chapter in Southern Mexico is delivering, to oversee and guarantee funds reach this purpose,” Dávila explains. Future strategy The STAR2025 global strategy for Stabilus is providing key actions already followed by the Mexican division, focusing on aspects such as: • Introducing a risk management program with the implications of being
a key supplier to the aerospace, food, automotive, and healthcare sectors. • Customer TouchPoint Excellence, a program created to focus on the end user’s experience, providing a link from the product creation, its functionality and the real-life experience of how it’s actually used, with the idea to improve products based on feedback. • Stabilus E-business, which will take the company to the virtual world and onto the users’ and clients’ hand with the development of the company’s digital presence and optimizing existing mobile apps. • Global Innovation Culture, an integral process to detect high-potential talent along with the already existing Rising Star initiative and the new e-commerce business strategies.
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Industria Metalúrgica No. 1010, Parque Industrial Ramos Arizpe Ramos Arizpe, Coahuila, México, 25900 Tel. +52 (844) 411-0707 Fax. 411-0706 www.stabilus.com