German switching product maker Kissling has expanded its production and logistics capabilities with the opening of a new production site in Calw, near Stuttgart. This step will enable the specialist in relays and switches to better support its customers in the automotive and related sectors, as they confront their own challenges in the areas of globalization, digital interconnection, technological innovation and efficiency. The additional space will be used to increase production capacity, while also creating opportunities for process improvement. Moreover, these changes create space at the existing Wildberg production site for a production zone that complies with the demands of the aerospace industry.
Rotero has been a Kissling authorized reseller for many years, supplying the company’s relays, battery disconnectors and microswitches to various sectors, in particular the automotive industry. Because these compact and lightweight products are made from extremely strong insulation material, they are also frequently selected for harsh environments.
The strong growth in market share has meant that Kissling’s production and logistics have outgrown the existing facilities in Wildberg. At the same time, new developments in R&D have added further pressure on space at this site. To resolve these issues, a new production and logistics site has been opened in nearby Calw; fully state-of-the-art, and ready to face the future. Logistics operations management was relocated in 2016, as well as various production lines and associated machinery. Wildberg continues to be the site of the company’s headquarters, along with R&D, model validation, prototyping and certain assembly operations.
The extra space offers the company many new opportunities. Apart from process improvement and economies of scale, it enables the company to work towards large-scale, automated production. For example, for the automotive sector. Another opportunity lies in the production of complete subsystems, such as pre-assembled and tested customer-specific modules, to add value to electromechanical and intelligent components. Improvements are also planned in the areas of safety and cleanliness.
The new production facility will also enable creation of a dedicated production zone that complies with the stringent demands of the aerospace industry. Typical requirements include the availability of clean rooms for assembly and special controlled-access zones.
This new production facility gives Kissling a solid base for the years ahead, with room to grow and deliver new products and services; developments that will reduce lead times, further increase quality, and offer the benefits of the newest technology to the end user.
