Portsmouth, N.H. — Brueckner Group USA, Inc. has acquired Paragon Molds Corp., a maker of tooling for automotive interior soft trim in Fraser, Mich., to beef up its Kiefel machinery business in that sector in the United States.
The deal happened Jan. 1. Terms were undisclosed.
Kiefel GmbH, based in Freilassing, Germany, makes thermoforming and welding machinery. In the United States that Kiefel business, along with Brueckner Group USA, is based in Portsmouth.
Paragon, which employs 33, manufactures tools for the production of interior components such as instrument panels, door panels, headrests, armrests, seats and center consoles, using a lamination process — plus tools for foamed and back-foamed molded skin components. That includes production and prototype tooling, trim dies and clamp frames for a range of applications, including vinyl-over-substrate, plastic components and appliqué film.
Brueckner Group USA bought Paragon from its former owners, David M. Smoger and Daniel V. Smoger. They will remain as vice president of operations and vice president of tooling of the Kiefel Automotive division of Brueckner Group USA, and will be responsible for all Kiefel Automotive activities for the NAFTA market.
Kiefel runs an Automotive Technology Center in Livonia, Mich.
“Paragon, along with the technology center, will raise Kiefel's operations in the USA to a new level and will significantly increase our market presence,” said Kiefel CEO Thomas Halletz.
Kiefel has been making moves to become a complete supplier in the automotive interior segment, to complement its vacuum forming machines. In 2014, Kiefel bought a tooling company in the Czech Republic that also focuses on that market, SWA sro.
Brueckner Group USA President Steven Hoenig said the Paragon acquisition continues that expansion, so the company can offer “a complete manufacturing solution” for the North American automotive market.
Kiefel GmbH is a member of the Siegsdorf, Germany- based Brückner Group.