Manufacturing Today Issue - 222 March 2024 | Page 173

__________________________________________________________________________________ KIRCHHOFF
Automotive
▼ Some of the Kirchhoff team on International Women ’ s Day

THE FUTURE

Today , KIRCHHOFF Automotive operates 27 plants spread across 11 countries and three continents ,” she begins .
Focusing on KIRCHHOFF Automotive ’ s activities in the US , Missy reveals the company ’ s largest plant in the country is in Tecumseh , Michigan . “ It is the biggest out of the ten manufacturing plants we operate in North America . Historically , the Tecumseh plant has been in the business of metal stampings and welded assemblies for over 36 years . Approximately 14 years ago , it became part of KIRCHHOFF Automotive . With the company acting as a Tier 1 and 2 supplier , the plant is being used to make underbody structures and cross car beams for multiple platforms . In addition to stampings ,
Missy Smith , Plant Manager , Head of Tecumseh ▶ some of Tecumseh ’ s other core competencies are resistance , MIG ( Metal Inert Gas ) and laser welding , CNC ( Computer Numerically Controlled ) bending , and structural adhesive applications . Moreover , Tecumseh is one of four North American plants that produces stampings , with over 400 stamping dies in the rotation schedule . The stampings produced in Tecumseh are not only used for our internal welding and assembly lines , but also for that of our sister plants which are in Lansing , Michigan , Waverly , Ohio , Dallas , Texas and Aurora , Canada . Each of these plants then proceed with their own welding and assembly prior to sending the final products to our customers ,” she details .
Missy discusses the automation , machines and processes in which KIRCHHOFF Automotive has invested to streamline its manufacturing
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