KIRCHHOFF Automotive

Embracing Sustainability with Hyundai Steel KIRCHHOFF Automotive is proud to announce a new partnership with Hyundai Steel Company to supply low-carbon steel products, marking a significant step towards sustainability. Starting in 2025, this collaboration aims to reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 20% through an innovative mixing process of Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) and Blast Oxygen Furnace (BOF) materials. “Hyundai Steel is one of the leading flat steel producers in the world and at the forefront of the technological transformation towards low-carbon steels. We are happy to join forces by forming a strong partnership and collaboration supporting and promoting this transformation. The technology roadmap established by Hyundai Steel allows us to use steels with a significantly lower carbon footprint to manufacture our products as early as 2025“, says Michael Rank, Global Executive Vice President Procurement at KIRCHHOFF Automotive. Hyundai Steel, a leader in automotive materials, will supply us with cold-rolled and hot-dip galvanized coils. They are committed to decarbonizing the steel manufacturing process through continuous investment in research and development. Our partnership will focus on testing and developing low-carbon steel products for the European market, blending traditional blast furnace and electric arc furnace processes. “This collaboration will help us establish a low-carbon automobile steel plate sales network in Europe,” stated a Hyundai Steel representative. With this memorandum of understanding, KIRCHHOFF Automotive continues to advance sustainable mobility, joining forces with other suppliers like ArcelorMittal, thyssenkrupp Steel Europe, SSAB, and H2Green Steel. We are proud to be ranked in the top 5% of the “Manufacture of parts and accessories for motor vehicles” sector and to have received a silver medal from EcoVadis for our sustainability efforts. #kirchhoffautomotive #makingmobilitysafe #sustainability #greensteel #co2reduction image: Hyundai Steel Company

You are the first! Congratulations to @Lukas Partmann and Stefan Mertens: they are the first apprentices in our company to complete their training as a production technologist (Lukas) and production IT specialist (Stefan). Both professions were trained at the Attendorn, Germany site and offered the trainees very interesting and practical content. Production technologist Lukas Partmann concentrated mainly on the area of manufacturing engineering, in particular the optimization of new welding systems, and took on challenging tasks. The subject of his practical examination was the procurement and start-up support of a gluing system. Another exciting activity was his participation in the "Digital Workplace" pilot project. Stefan Mertens is our first trained production IT specialist. This new profession, which is very interesting for us, will also continue to be trained at the Attendorn site. The training is made up of two shortened apprenticeships as a machine and plant operator and as an IT specialist for system integration. This requires a great deal of initiative in order to catch up on the missed training content independently by shortening the course. "It is important to always be on the lookout for new apprenticeships that meet the future requirements of changing products, systems and activities," says Michael Isphording, Head of Technical Training in Attendorn. "By offering these two new apprenticeships, we are on the right track." #kirchhoffautomotive #makingmobilitysafe #driveyourcareer #apprenticeship #training

We've launched! On June 20, 2024, we opened our doors at the Iserlohn plant for the first “Day of Apprenticeship” to enthusiastic young individuals interested in learning about our apprenticeship opportunities. Plant Manager Frank Buchholzki gave the participants an informative overview of the KIRCHHOFF Group, focusing on the Iserlohn site. Following this introduction, visitors embarked on a guided tour of the facilities, gaining insights into various vocational roles. At multiple stations, our team members and trainers elaborated on the responsibilities associated with each role, the prerequisites necessary for each career path, and the personal qualities that would contribute to success in these fields. "It was truly rewarding to inspire young people about our apprenticeship opportunities," shared Lars Preisner, Technical Trainer. The day concluded with a casual snack session, providing our guests with the chance to engage more deeply with all our trainers, discussing the roles that had particularly interested them. Many inquiries about our apprenticeships and the application process were addressed, and we hope to have identified promising candidates. "For all involved, this was a successful event that we undoubtedly plan to repeat," concluded Daniela Deutscher, HR Business Partner. We are pleased that this new format, which we have created at several locations, is so well received. #kirchhoffautomotive #makingmobilitysafe #driveyourcareer #Training #Apprenticeship #CareerDevelopment #Iserlohn

June marks Pride Month, a time dedicated to honoring and celebrating the LGBTQ+ community. We want to highlight Danny Howell, our North America HR Manager, who is an enthusiastic participant in the Toronto Pride Parade. Every year, at the end of June, Danny takes part in this vibrant celebration, showcasing her support in her most colorful outfits and makeup. "I love going to Pride to show support to my fellow queers," she says. The Toronto Pride Parade is renowned as one of the largest Pride parades globally, drawing over a million attendees each year. #kirchhoffautomotive #makingmobilitysafe #torontoprideparade #pridemonth

Celebrating 25 Years of Excellence at KIRCHHOFF Automotive in Mielec, Poland! We are thrilled to announce the 25th anniversary of the KIRCHHOFF Automotive plant in Mielec, Poland! What began as a small press shop, a welding shop, and a shipping preparation area has now grown into our largest plant, employing over 900 dedicated team members. On May 27th, we hosted an official celebration, inviting esteemed guests from politics, business, and our valued partners to join us. The event kicked off with a press conference followed by an exclusive tour of our impressive facility. Reflecting on our journey, Dr. Jochen F. Kirchhoff's decision in 1998 to establish a new production plant in Eastern Europe wasn't without its challenges. Despite the initial concerns about the location—including its distance from material suppliers, customers, and the underdeveloped road infrastructure—the city's strong metalworking heritage and experienced workforce made Mielec the perfect choice. Following significant layoffs in the local aerospace sector, we were able to tap into a skilled labor pool eager for new opportunities. Construction of the Mielec plant began in 1998, with production starting just a year later in 1999. Our initial setup included a modest press shop with several mechanical presses, a welding shop equipped with robot-assisted stations, and a dedicated shipping preparation area. Fast forward to today, our Mielec plant supplies a diverse range of products to numerous customers across Europe. Our portfolio now spans various customer segments (both volume and premium), vehicle classes (passenger and commercial vehicles), and drive types (combustion engines, hybrids, and electric vehicles). Join us in celebrating this significant milestone and the remarkable growth and achievements of our Mielec plant over the past 25 years. Here's to many more years of innovation and success! #kirchhoffautomotive #makingmobilitysafe #mielec #emobility

This is a great honor! Our plant in Hungary has once again been awarded the prestigious title of "Reliable Employer." KIRCHHOFF Hungária Kft. excelled in all categories compared to other companies. This year's award winners were announced at the annual DUIHK general meeting on May 16th. The award is based on an application process where participating companies must demonstrate their practices and policies, such as compensation practices, social benefits, health and working conditions, education and training, development, and career planning, according to a detailed set of criteria. This year, a panel of experts positively evaluated 37 companies, which will receive the "Reliable Employer" designation for the next three years. The three-year term aims to encourage companies to continuously drive sustainable development and take care of their employees. Géza Körtvélyessy from MDA accepted the award on behalf of our plant in Esztergom. Image: DUIHK #kirchhoffautomotive #makingmobilitysafe #reliableemployer

Already read the summer issue of K>Mobil? Here are some of the magazine's highlights at a glance: • Virtually emission-free: @KIRCHHOFF Automotive takes further steps towards decarbonizing its supply chain • Awarded silver: @EcoVadis medal for commitment to sustainability • Research shows: Hot forming can reduce the carbon footprint of a structural metal part • Shared experience, shared participation: Employees from @KIRCHHOFF Automotive, @FAUN and @ZOELLER have collaborated on a photo calendar • Excellent: KIRCHHOFF Automotive has received significant awards from its customers. Curious? Take a look at the latest magazine: https://lnkd.in/e8zvhhbt #kirchhoffautomotive #makingmobilitysafe #decarbonization #EcoVadis #sustainability

This is the key to sustainable car body production! KIRCHHOFF Automotive has shown that, contrary to popular belief, hot forming can reduce the CO2 footprint of automotive components. According to Markus Loecker, technology development specialist, hot forming enables the use of thinner materials, which reduces the overall weight of the vehicles. This leads to lower CO2 emissions for both combustion and electric vehicles. On the other hand, less material is used, which represents the greatest CO2 reduction in production. The main advantage is therefore the lower use of materials, which significantly reduces the CO2 footprint. Hot forming is used for safety-critical parts such as crash management systems and pillars, creating hard, resilient steel that increases vehicle safety and sustainability. Loecker: "Hot forming is a key element in sustainable automotive manufacturing and helps us to reduce our environmental impact through smarter use of materials." #kirchhoffautomotive #makingmobilitysafe #Sustainability #HotForming #Innovation #GreenTech

It was an exciting day for some of our employees! Thanks to the cooperation between KIRCHHOFF Automotive and the city of Iserlohn for the EM Public Viewing event, they were able to be there live when the Italian national soccer team trained in Iserlohn's Hemberg Stadium for the upcoming European Championship tournament! The Azzurri have chosen Iserlohn as their location during the European Championships. It was a unique opportunity to experience the soccer stars up close and observe their training techniques. The atmosphere was great, the weather played along - and everyone who was there was thrilled. Around 14,000 people wanted to see the training session. We are delighted that our football-loving colleagues were ultimately able to be among the 4,000 fans allowed in the stadium. We are now looking forward to the upcoming European Football Championship! #kirchhoffautomotive #makgingmobilitysafe #TeamEvent #ItalianNationalTeam #Soccer #EuropeanChampionships

Last week we had the pleasure of hosting an information evening for our new apprentices and their parents. It was a great opportunity for everyone to get to know each other and learn more about our company. In addition to presentations and a tour of the plant, our new apprentices had the opportunity to visit their future workplaces and get a first look at the different departments. We are delighted to welcome these young talents to our team! And for all undecided pupils from Iserlohn and the surrounding area, there is still time to register for our Training Day on June 20, 2024 and get to know KIRCHHOFF Automotive and the wide range of apprenticeship opportunities. You can find all information here: https://lnkd.in/etXQCpgJ #KIRCHHOFFAutomotive #DriveYourCareerMakeMobilitySafe #Apprenticeship