TRIER, Germany, 29th June 2012 – GKN Driveline Trier today opened the latest €20 million investment in the facility creating the world’s first flowline.
The latest investment automates the production of precision forgings used in the production of CVJ Systems. The main components of the automated flowline are an induction heater, an automatic multi-stage CL press and two presses for cold forming.
Employees of GKN Driveline Trier were joined at the opening by GKN Driveline’s chief executive Andrew Reynolds Smith, and Helmuth Rohregger, managing director GKN Driveline North Europe as well as political, industry and community representatives.
The new automated flowline will start production on 1st July.
"The investment of €20 million is the largest ever made by GKN Driveline Trier and has created an innovative system concept, the first of its kind in the world. It will improve safety; it introduces fully-automated flowlines; will minimise energy consumption; and allow us to be more responsive to the customer”, said Roland Seidel, managing director of GKN Driveline Trier.
The main forgings of the new systems will be precision-formed up to 950°C, cooled, descaled, cold formed, washed and then treated with corrosion protection before quality control and despatch.
About GKN Driveline Trier
GKN Driveline Trier started production at its current site in the port of Trier.
The company supplies vehicle manufacturers and other GKN businesses throughout the world. The company's main products are precision forgings for use in CVJ Systems. Its product range extends from cold extruded components weighing just 100 grams to hot-forged axle shafts weighting 30 kilograms. The company employs 500 people, 39 of whom are apprentices.
The company is part of the North Europe Operations of GKN Driveline, which includes sites in Kaiserslautern, Kiel, Mosel, Offenbach (Germany), Oleśnica in Poland and Köping in Sweden in addition to Trier. One of GKN Driveline’s global research and development centres is located in Lohmar near Cologne.
About GKN Driveline
GKN Driveline is the world’s leading supplier of automotive driveline components and systems. As a global company serving the world’s leading vehicle manufacturers, GKN Driveline develops, builds and supplies an extensive range of automotive driveline components – for use in the smallest ultra low-cost car to the most sophisticated premium vehicle demanding the most complex driving dynamics.
GKN Driveline is a leading global producer of CVJ Systems, AWD Systems, Trans Axle Solutions and eDrive Systems and operates in 23 countries at 57 locations employing 22,000 people.
About the GKN Group
GKN plc is a global engineering business serving mainly the automotive, aerospace and land systems markets. It has operations in more than 35 countries, around 44,000 employees in subsidiaries and joint ventures and had sales of €7.0 billion (£6.1 billion) in the year to 31 December 2011. GKN plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: GKN).
Company Contact
Roland Seidel
Managing Director
GKN Driveline Trier
Tel: +49 651 9661 0
Email: roland.seidel@gkndriveline.com |
Media Contact – Europe
Peter Richter
Autocom Deutschland
Tel: +49 2224 919 8091
Email: peter.richter@autocom-deutschland.de |