Johnson Controls signs purchase agreement to acquire C. Rob Hammerstein Group

 C. Rob. Hammerstein Group intended to be vital part of Johnson Controls Automotive Experience’s recently carved out seating components group

Solingen, Germany December 1, 2010 - Johnson Controls, a global leader in automotive seating systems, interior components and electronics, signed a purchase agreement for the acquisition of the C. Rob. Hammerstein Group (CRH), whose headquarters and main development facilities are based in Solingen, Germany. CRH is a highly respected global supplier of seat metal structures and mechanisms on an outstanding quality level.

 “This transaction marks a very significant step in our history. We have carefully analyzed Johnson Controls’ proposal and concluded that it clearly represents a unique opportunity for the CRH Group to best meet the future challenges of our industry, such as fast growing globalization and platform standardization, said Robert Houston, CEO of CRH. “Together both companies intend to establish a best in class metalorganization within the global seating components business, which will be a milestone for CRH and will honor our family owned company.”

CRH’s expertise includes the complete product development process, from design, engineering and manufacturing of the individual components to the integration of the complete seat system. Its products and capabilities include front seat structures, seat tracks and height adjusters, multiway adjusters, power gear boxes, as well as special applications such as steering column adjusters. Approximately 3.600 employees in nine countries are associated with the business.

“The acquisition of CRH will substantially enhance our seat product offering as it will advance our strong market position through global manufacturing capabilities, innovation and further optimization of our portfolio,” said Beda Bolzenius, Vice President, Johnson Controls and President, Automotive Experience. “We will maintain the CRH brand name as it is synonymous with high quality metal structures components and mechanisms.”

For Johnson Controls the combined footprint of the companies creates new opportunities for global growth, particularly in China, Mexico, Turkey, Hungary, and Romania. Furthermore the acquisition enables vertical integration in the premium vehicle segments where CRH has a proven track record.

“Through the combination of CRH’s advanced technology capabilities, such as its highly precise gearbox units, with Johnson Controls’ electronic body controller knowledge enables us to provide entirely new solutions in all automotive mechatronic applications,” said Bolzenius.

CRH’s sustainable products and technologies include slim seat structures which provide lightweight solutions. When combined with Johnson Controls’ operational expertise, these solutions will help reduce component weight for future vehicles.

The CRH business will be integrated into the Johnson Controls metal and mechanisms unit that is part of its recently carved out seating components group within the Automotive Experience business. The metal and mechanisms unit as well as the entire seating components group are led by Johannes Roters, Group Vice President and General Manager Seating Components. It also includes dedicated units for trim and fabrics, as well as foam.

Completion of the acquisition, which is subject to customary regulatory ap-provals, is expected by the end of January 2011.


C. ROB. HAMMERSTEIN Group (CRH) headquartered in Solingen, Germany, is the specialist for the development and production of high quality complete seat structures, seat adjustment systems, steering column adjusters and variable interior concepts. Well known car manufacturers and System-suppliers count on CRH products. The company employs approx. 3.000 people across 13 locations in Germany, USA, Mexico, Hungary, Romania, South Africa, Japan and China.


Press Release as pdf-download

The Lightness of Being / Weight reduction written LARGE

A new complete seat structure in lightweight design: this is what the automotive supplier C. Rob. Hammerstein (CRH) from Solingen presented for the first time at the IZB 2010 in Wolfsburg. Because of its low weight the innovative concept is interesting for all classes of vehicle, and was developed entirely by CRH.

Solingen/Wolfsburg – The CRH Group based in Solingen/Germany successfully faced up to the latest demands for seat structures with respect to weight reduction and increasing requirements. With its rigorous development of weight-optimised seat structures the CRH Group has delivered a crucial contribution to total vehicle weight reduction. “The subject of lightweight design is the challenge for the future and we are proud of the fact that we faced up to it”, commented Robert Houston, CEO of the CRH Group.

 

The CRH Group has strengthened its market position in China, winning contracts from a Chinese car manufacturer. The development and production of the new seat structures are taking place exclusively in the CRH locations in China. “The nomination is a great honour and I thank all of our employees who contributed to this success” said a pleased Robert Houston.

 

The CRH Group continues on its expansion course. The ground-breaking ceremony for a new plant in Turkey took place only last week.

CRH - New Production Facility in Turkey

The CRH Group will establish a new facility to manufacture automotive seating structures.

Solingen (Germany), Çayırova (Turkey) – Today the groundbreaking event in Çayırova, Kocaeli, Turkey took place on the 37,000 square meter site today, within the Taysad Organised Industrial Zone (TOSB).  

The factory itself will have a footprint of 17,000 square meters. The building, which has a completion scheduled for May 2011, will support the production of newly designed automotive seat structures with a start of production scheduled for 2012. The CRH facility in Turkey will employ 350 people over three shifts producing 1.2 million seat structures per year. The seat structures will be used in the new Ford Transit to be launched in 2012 in Turkey (Gölcük, Ford Otosan) and the UK (Southampton, Ford) plants.  

The initial programme investment of 43 million Euros is designated for land, buildings, tooling and machinery. “This is the largest single investment that the CRH Group of Companies has made in its 160 year history”, said Robert Houston, Group CEO at today’s groundbreaking ceremony.

C. ROB. HAMMERSTEIN Group (CRH), headquartered in Solingen, Germany, is the specialist for the development and production of high-quality complete seat structures, seat adjustment systems, steering column adjusters and variable interior concepts. Well known car manufacturers and system-suppliers count on CRH products. The company employs 3.300 people across 13 locations in Germany, USA, Mexico, Hungary, Romania, Turkey, South Africa, Japan and China.

HE Steering Systems GmbH has been founded

CRH Group and Willi Elbe Group have established a joint venture company, based in Pfedelbach.

Solingen – Today the shareholders have signed the joint venture contract for HE Steering Systems GmbH. The new company is a 50:50 joint venture between the companies CRH Group and Willi Elbe Group. The headquarters of HE Steering Systems is Pfedelbach in Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany.

 

The purpose of the joint company is the development, production and distribution of steering systems for the automotive industry. The newly established company intensifies and improves the mutual beneficial relationship between the two shareholders, which have already been working closely together since many years. “Mid-size companies have to pool their resources to survive in the highly competitive global market”, states Robert Houston, Managing Director of the CRH Group. Customers will benefit from having only one contact dealing with their requirements.

 

Willi Elbe Group based in Tamm, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany, was founded in 1951 and is specialised in steering technology for motor vehicles. The company has a workforce of about 500 employees and owns production plants in Germany (3), Switzerland and Norway.

 

C. ROB. HAMMERSTEIN Group (CRH) headquartered in Solingen, Germany, is the specialist for the development and production of high-quality complete seat structures, seat adjustment systems, steering column adjusters and variable interior concepts. Well known car manufacturers and System-suppliers count on CRH products. The company employs approx. 3.000 people across 13 locations in Germany, USA, Mexico, Hungary, Romania, South Africa, Japan and China.

CRH establishes joint venture with Japanese car seat supplier

CRH Group and Fuji Kiko Co., Ltd, Japan have established a joint venture called "Fuji Kiko Hammerstein Automotive GmbH“, headquartered in Solingen.

Solingen – On 12th April 2010 the foundation contract for the joint company Fuji Kiko Hammerstein Automotive GmbH (abreviation: FUHA) was signed by the top management of both companies. The head office of the new company is located in Solingen, Germany (full address: Merscheider Strasse 167, 42699 Solingen, Germany).

 

Since April 2009 the companies have already been collaborating in North Amercia. The foundation of the joint company will intensified the cooperation between CRH and Fuji Kiko and will extend it to the European market.

 

The joint company develops and identifies new opportunities with the automotive manufacturers and JIT suppliers by presenting and proposing new products and technologies which will be a result of synergy effects of CRH and Fuji Kiko. The CRH Group especially benefits from gaining better access to the Japanese automotive market.

 

Fuji Kiko Co., Ltd headquartered in Washizu, Shizuoka, Japan, is supplying seat components, power train components, steering columns and automatic transmission shifters to major Japanese automotive manufacturers and JIT suppliers. The company employs almost 1.200 people and has got 4 production locations in Japan and 14 overseas manufacturing footprints, 3 of them in Europe.

 

C. ROB. HAMMERSTEIN Group (CRH) headquartered in Solingen, Germany, is the specialist for the development and production of high-quality complete seat structures, seat adjustment systems, steering column adjusters and variable interior concepts. Well known car manufacturers and System-suppliers count on CRH products. The company employs approx. 3.000 people across 13 locations in Germany, USA, Mexico, Hungary, Romania, South Africa, Japan and China.

CRH wins „Daimler Supplier Award 2009“

Company from Solingen, Germany belongs to Daimler’s worldwide best suppliers

^{Picture: Daimler AG}

Solingen/Stuttgart – The Germany based CRH Group has been awarded the „Daimler Supplier Award 2009“ in the category „Mercedes-Benz Cars and Vans – Interior“ on the occasion of the second „Daimler Key Supplier Meetings“ in Stuttgart. Daimler AG recognised its best suppliers for their contributions with this Supplier Award. “We are among the worldwide top suppliers of Daimler AG, this is an outstanding success for our company“, stated Robert Houston, Managing Director of the CRH Group.

 

The Award is based on a worldwide standardised rating system which comprises issues such as project management performance, engineering and delivery quality, costs, logistics as well as technology and innovation. Furthermore the cooperation between Daimler and its suppliers is evaluated in the areas of fairness, reliability and trust. Frank Deiss, Head of Purchasing Procurement Mercedes-Benz Cars and Vans,  in his speech especially praised the innovation of the modular seat and CRH’s engineering competence und reliability.

 

„ This is an outstanding success for our company. We are very proud of gaining this award and we thank all our employees involved for their great efforts“said Robert Houston, who received the prize from Frank Deiss and board member Dr. Wolfgang Bernhardt, responsible for Manufacturing and Procurement Mercedes-Benz Cars & Mercedes-Benz Vans.

   

 

On behalf of Daimler’s Board of Management, whose members all attended the conference, Dr. Dieter Zetzsche, thanked the company’s suppliers for their contributions to jointly master what arguably was the most challenging year the global automotive industry has had to face in more than half a century. “For us this award is an incentive to navigate through these uncertain times and to emerge from them stronger”, commented Robert Houston.

 

C. ROB. HAMMERSTEIN Group (CRH) with its headquarters in Solingen, Germany, is the specialist for the development and production of high-quality complete seat structures, seat adjustment systems, steering column adjusters and variable interior concepts. Well known car manufacturers and System-suppliers count on CRH products. The company employs approx. 3.000 people across 13 locations in Germany, USA, Mexico, Hungary, Romania, South Africa, Japan and China.