Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Sustainable Plastics
  • Rubber News
Subscribe
  • Sign Up Free
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • Processor News
    • Suppliers
    • More News
    • Digital Edition
    • End Markets
    • Special Reports
    • Newsletters
    • Resin pricing news
    • Videos
    • Injection Molding
    • Blow Molding
    • Film & Sheet
    • Pipe/Profile/Tubing
    • Rotomolding
    • Thermoforming
    • Recycling
    • Machinery
    • Materials
    • Molds/Tooling
    • Product news
    • Design
    • K Show
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Sustainability
    • Public Policy
    • Material Insights Videos
    • Numbers that Matter
    • Automotive
    • Packaging
    • Medical
    • Consumer Products
    • Construction
    • Processor of the Year
    • Best Places to Work
    • Women Breaking the Mold
    • Rising Stars
    • Diversity
    • Most Interesting Social Media Accounts in Plastics
  • Opinion
    • The Plastics Blog
    • Kickstart
    • One Good Resin
    • Pellets and Politics
    • All Things Data
    • Viewpoint
    • From Pillar to Post
    • Perspective
    • Mailbag
    • Fake Plastic Trees
  • Shop Floor
    • Blending
    • Compounding
    • Drying
    • Injection Molding
    • Purging
    • Robotics
    • Size Reduction
    • Structural Foam
    • Tooling
    • Training
  • Events
    • K Show Livestream
    • Plastics News Events
    • Industry Events
    • Injection Molding & Design Expo
    • Livestreams/Webinars
    • Editorial Livestreams
    • Ask the Expert
    • Plastics News Events Library
    • Processor of the Year submissions
    • Plastics News Executive Forum
    • Injection Molding & Design Expo
    • Plastics News Caps & Closures
    • Women Breaking the Mold Networking Forum
    • Plastics in Automotive
    • PN Live: Mergers and Acquisitions
    • Polymer Points Live
    • Numbers that Matter Live
    • Plastics in Politics Live
    • Sustainable Plastics Live
    • Plastics Caps & Closures Library
    • Plastics in Healthcare Library
    • Women Breaking the Mold Networking Forum Library
  • Rankings & Data
    • Injection Molders
    • Blow Molders
    • Film Sheet
    • Thermoformers
    • Pipe Profile Tubing
    • Rotomolders
    • Mold/Toolmakers
    • LSR Processors
    • Recyclers
    • Compounders - List
    • Association - List
    • Plastic Lumber - List
    • All
  • Directory
  • Resin Prices
    • Commodity TPs
    • High Temp TPs
    • ETPs
    • Thermosets
    • Recycled Plastics
    • Historic Commodity Thermoplastics
    • Historic High Temp Thermoplastics
    • Historic Engineering Thermoplastics
    • Historic Thermosets
    • Historic Recycled Plastics
  • Custom
    • Sponsored Content
    • LS Mtron Sponsored Content
    • Conair Sponsored Content
    • KraussMaffei Sponsored Content
    • ENGEL Sponsored Content
    • White Papers
    • Classifieds
    • Place an Ad
    • Sign up for Early Classified
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
January 25, 2016 01:00 AM

Röchling maps continued growth in North America

Rhoda Miel
Managing Editor
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Reprints Print
    Rochling Automotive SE && Co. KG
    Rochling has developed what it called "speedlips," which activate at speeds over 43 mph and improve aerodynamics.

    Detroit — German auto supplier Röchling Automotive SE & Co. KG has seen steady growth in North America during the past five years as U.S.-based automakers adopted lighter and more aerodynamic fuel-sipping options previously used throughout Europe.

    Now the company is expecting even further growth as it brings even more technology to the market aimed at helping carmakers meet regulatory demands for better fuel economy and lower carbon dioxide emissions.

    “We have completed the budgeting exercise for the next five years and we already see the limit of our existing plants, including Mexico,” said Vincent Mauroit, president of Röchling Automotive USA, in a Jan. 12 interview at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. “We are already looking at expansion options and, also, maybe a new plant wherever the opportunity is.”

    Röchling, based in Mannheim, Germany, is in the process of opening its third North American plant, a 90,000-square-foot operation in Silao, Mexico. Production begins there this year, joining sites in Akron, Ohio, and Duncan, S.C.

    The Silao plant has room to grow, and is designed similar to the Akron site, which opened in 2011 with 90,000 square feet. It later expanded to 160,000 square feet, Röchling officials said.

    The growth could come in another region altogether as business grows, however.

    Rochling

    Doll

    Much of the growth is thanks to the company's investment in new technology that focuses on improving vehicle performance, from looking at opportunities with existing internal combustion engines to advanced electric or fuel cell powertrains — and marrying those products with “state-of-the-art, plastic processing technology,” said Justin White, vice president and commercial managing director with Röchling USA.

    Until five years ago, Röchling was seen as a strong processor in Europe, but hadn't yet broken through in the U.S. outside of work with European automakers' assembly plants in the Southeastern United States.

    That changed quickly, however, once American automakers signed on to key parts such as active grille shutters.

    The shutters sit just behind the front grille and are open when a car engine is warm or the car is operating at slower speeds, but close at faster speeds to improve performance.

    “If you look into it in North America, you'll find there's not too many cars left that do not have a grille shutter,” said CEO Erwin Doll. “The decision was made by Ford, it was made by GM to place it in all their cars. Chrysler is following this as well, along with the Japanese [automakers].

    “In fact, we are supplying more active grille shutters in North America than in Europe now.”

    At the 2016 auto show, Röchling was making its first appearance to show what it believes is the next generation of aerodynamic improvements. That includes both an updated grille shutter — using vertical rather than horizontal plastic blades that can improve function, fit into smaller spaces and provide more design flexibility — and two new products similarly designed to move air smoothly around the car at higher speeds.

    Active speedlips are a small, plastic shield with integrated electronics that would drop down in front of each of the front wheels when a car or truck is moving at least 43 mph and redirect the air flow more smoothly past the car, said Juergen Peters, vice president and general manager of the customer center for North America.

    An active air dam would drop down beneath the bumper at higher speeds, likewise to improve aerodynamics.

    Speedlips more closely match the needs of the U.S. market, which relies more heavily on trucks, crossovers and sport utility vehicles than the European market, Doll said. In addition, they are less likely to be in a crash zone, because they sit further back than the front of the car, and they likely would not need paint, unlike a dam which is easy to spot.

    “We are absolutely confident that we will get the first order for speedlips this year, although the air dams could come as well,” he said.

    Röchling also is looking at other long-term offerings, from a de-gas bottle to be used with fuel cell vehicles to a multi-layer integrated sandwich floor, which would replace an existing steel floor with a complete system that would reduce weight and assembly time and improve acoustic performance.

    Doll, who has been with the supplier for nine years, noted that the company is being careful not to put its technology capabilities ahead of its sales flow.

    “We had maybe too much of an emphasis on processing in the past,” he said. “We had a production strategy that said, ‘We have X amount of machines and they all need to run.' When I came we defined a strategy so that we really focused on specific products. That's how our product lines are now organized and why we see growth of 12 percent per year.”

    RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
    People Watch: Week of March 27, 2023
    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Do you have an opinion about this story? Do you have some thoughts you'd like to share with our readers? Plastics News would love to hear from you. Email your letter to Editor at [email protected]

    Most Popular
    1
    Biden sets US goal to replace 90% of plastics with biomaterials
    2
    Redline's ‘outrageous cultural behaviors' retain top employees
    3
    Industry sees Biden bioplastics goal as serious signal
    4
    Official says Norfolk Southern fire likely started in rail car containing resin
    5
    Commodity prices rise; engineering resins drop
    SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE NEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Get our newsletters

    Staying current is easy with Plastics News delivered straight to your inbox, free of charge.

    Subscribe today

    Subscribe to Plastics News

    Subscribe now
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram

    Plastics News covers the business of the global plastics industry. We report news, gather data and deliver timely information that provides our readers with a competitive advantage.

    Contact Us

    1155 Gratiot Avenue
    Detroit MI 48207-2997

    Customer Service:
    877-320-1723

    Resources
    • About
    • Staff
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Media Kit
    • Data Store
    • Digital Edition
    • Custom Content
    • People
    • Contact
    • Careers
    • Sitemap
    Related Crain Publications
    • Sustainable Plastics
    • Rubber News
    • Tire Business
    • Urethanes Technology
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Copyright © 1996-2023. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • Processor News
        • Injection Molding
        • Blow Molding
        • Film & Sheet
        • Pipe/Profile/Tubing
        • Rotomolding
        • Thermoforming
        • Recycling
      • Suppliers
        • Machinery
        • Materials
        • Molds/Tooling
        • Product news
        • Design
      • More News
        • K Show
        • Mergers & Acquisitions
        • Sustainability
        • Public Policy
        • Material Insights Videos
        • Numbers that Matter
      • Digital Edition
      • End Markets
        • Automotive
        • Packaging
        • Medical
        • Consumer Products
        • Construction
      • Special Reports
        • Processor of the Year
        • Best Places to Work
        • Women Breaking the Mold
        • Rising Stars
        • Diversity
        • Most Interesting Social Media Accounts in Plastics
      • Newsletters
      • Resin pricing news
      • Videos
    • Opinion
      • The Plastics Blog
      • Kickstart
      • One Good Resin
      • Pellets and Politics
      • All Things Data
      • Viewpoint
      • From Pillar to Post
      • Perspective
      • Mailbag
      • Fake Plastic Trees
    • Shop Floor
      • Blending
      • Compounding
      • Drying
      • Injection Molding
      • Purging
      • Robotics
      • Size Reduction
      • Structural Foam
      • Tooling
      • Training
    • Events
      • K Show Livestream
      • Plastics News Events
        • Plastics News Executive Forum
        • Injection Molding & Design Expo
        • Plastics News Caps & Closures
        • Women Breaking the Mold Networking Forum
        • Plastics in Automotive
      • Industry Events
      • Injection Molding & Design Expo
      • Livestreams/Webinars
        • PN Live: Mergers and Acquisitions
      • Editorial Livestreams
        • Polymer Points Live
        • Numbers that Matter Live
        • Plastics in Politics Live
        • Sustainable Plastics Live
      • Ask the Expert
      • Plastics News Events Library
        • Plastics Caps & Closures Library
        • Plastics in Healthcare Library
        • Women Breaking the Mold Networking Forum Library
      • Processor of the Year submissions
    • Rankings & Data
      • Injection Molders
      • Blow Molders
      • Film Sheet
      • Thermoformers
      • Pipe Profile Tubing
      • Rotomolders
      • Mold/Toolmakers
      • LSR Processors
      • Recyclers
      • Compounders - List
      • Association - List
      • Plastic Lumber - List
      • All
    • Directory
    • Resin Prices
      • Commodity TPs
        • Historic Commodity Thermoplastics
      • High Temp TPs
        • Historic High Temp Thermoplastics
      • ETPs
        • Historic Engineering Thermoplastics
      • Thermosets
        • Historic Thermosets
      • Recycled Plastics
        • Historic Recycled Plastics
    • Custom
      • Sponsored Content
      • LS Mtron Sponsored Content
      • Conair Sponsored Content
      • KraussMaffei Sponsored Content
      • ENGEL Sponsored Content
      • White Papers
      • Classifieds
        • Place an Ad
        • Sign up for Early Classified