Kiekert, the technology leader in automotive locking systems, is moving its manufacturing operations to a new 41,000-square-foot facility in Wixom, Michigan. The company’s existing R&D facility in Wixom at Liberty Drive will continue to lead the engineering and program management activities for the NAFTA region.
The manufacturing relocation is part of a $3 million expansion designed to double the company’s production capacity in the United States. Production of latch modules at the new facility is expected to exceed one million units in 2018 compared to 350,000 latch modules just five years ago. The company will add 30 new jobs at its new production location to support the expansion according to Mike Hietbrink, Kiekert’s global sales director and general manager of its U.S. operations
As the lead engineering and program management center for the NAFTA region, Kiekert’s Wixom plant and its sister operations in Mexico are responsible for over $220 million in annual revenue and account for a 25 percent share of NAFTA market for automotive locking systems.
“We’ve made continuous investments in the expansion of our research, prototype, development and manufacturing operations in the Detroit area since locating here in 1994,” Hietbrink said. “Our Wixom production plant specializes in supporting our customers locally with world-class locking systems. Our Wixom R&D facility is recognized by our customers as a leading technology center for designing and developing these products.”
Kiekert currently has multiple development projects underway with carmakers in North America that will lead to further increases in sales in the next five years. Projects include work with the company’s E-Latch, i-move and i-protect systems.
About Kiekert AG
Kiekert Safety and Comfort Systems can be found in almost every vehicle throughout the world today. One out of every three side-door latches worldwide is based on a product design developed by Kiekert. For decades, the name has stood for automobile technology that sets the benchmarks. As a leader in technology, it is Kiekert’s goal to make safety and comfort an experience in every vehicle.