KIRCHHOFF AUTOMOTIVE PARTNERS WITH NIDEC ARISA FOR SUCCESS

When seeking complete manufacturing solutions, one of the world’s biggest automotive stampers relies on the innovation, knowledge, and flexibility of Nidec Arisa.

Kirchhoff Automotive, with a history dating back to 1785, has developed a strategic partnership with Nidec Arisa for supplying mechanical and servo presses, along with customized controls and process automation.

“Our partnership is not like a usual relationship between a customer and a supplier,” a Kirchhoff official said. “It’s more cooperative, like a good colleague. Both sides know exactly what can be expected from the other side.”

Kirchhoff established its first press shop in 1894 and has since grown to 30 production plants in 11 different countries with more than 9,000 employees.

Today Kirchhoff Automotive is a tier one supplier to all of the world’s most prestigious automakers. Kirchhoff specializes in larger auto body frame components stamped from a variety of materials, ranging from aluminum to high tensile steel.

Arisa installed the first servo press for Kirchhoff nearly a decade ago — a 1,600 ton press at a plant in Poland. Today, approximately 80 Arisa presses are installed at Kirchhoff facilities around the globe.

One of the most recent installations is a 1,250 ton servo press at the company’s production center in Tecumseh, Michigan.

This press includes a wide range of slide motion profiles, an energy management system, and a high-performance transfer. This installation also has an adjustable automatic de-stacker and automatic die change.

“Arisa is a solid supplier because of the knowledge and trust we have shared over the years,” the Kirchhoff official said. “Arisa is very flexible during the design and implementation of each project. And the Arisa solutions are very stable and dependable.”

Having recently moved into a new production facility near Navarrete, Spain, Nidec Arisa manufactures some of the world’s largest servo and mechanical presses. Arisa specializes in custom systems with unique transfer and material handling solutions along with industry-leading controls and software.

As part of Nidec Press & Automation (NPA), Arisa is able to offer its customer a wide range of products and solutions from a single source. NPA not only reduces lead times with global manufacturing capabilities, but also features a responsive Customer Service team dispatched from locations on six continents.

“We will look for Arisa to provide new machines and technologies as we continue to expand our product offering for electric vehicles,” the Kirchhoff Automotive representative said. “Through our ongoing partnership we can continue to realize global growth.”