Kirchhoff expands welding shop and implements hot forming technology in Esztergom
Esztergom-based automotive parts manufacturer Kirchhoff Hungária Kft. has expanded its welding shop by 50 percent.
Géza Körtvélyessy, the CEO of the Esztergom-based company, said the company had received a HUF 713 million grant from New Széchenyi Plan funds. With the HUF 2.7 billion investment the company has introduced a new technology and hired new employees at the welding shop.
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The development project was launched in December 2011. Kirchhoff has created 50 new jobs at the welding shop and purchased new equipment required for a new technology implemented at the plant.
The most valuable procurement was a 1,600-ton pressing machine, which was set to work at the end of last year. A new production hall is now suitable for the so-called hot forming technology, while two other halls has also been built, completed with an office building.
The most important development was the implementation of the hot forming technology, which allows the company to use the latest technologies available in automotive production. The new technology makes possible the production of lightweight steel body panels with higher rigidity.
The existing 6,000-square-metre welding shop has been expanded by 3,000 square metres, while the 2,300-square-metre pressing shop has been increased by a 2,500-square-metre area.
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As a result of an increased headcount, the office building has also been expanded by 200 square metres. The new equipment conforms to the latest European and Hungarian standards and regulations.
At the welding shop three CCB robot cells have been installed. The welding shop now also houses the so-called "supermarket"' area, which is part of the new logistics concept implemented at the company.
Complementing the robot cells, a new ventilation system was also installed for the welding machines. The system sucks, filters and recycles the harmful gases released during the welding process.
The robot cells will manufacture dashboard support rods for a new model made at the PSA plant, 270,000 units a year. This component provides dashboard's rigidity during a crash and houses other parts of the dashboard, such as the airbags and the radio unit.
Last year, Kirchhoff Hungária Kft. had 510 employees, including 318 manual labourers and 192 engineers.
