Huf Hulsbeck & Furst GmbH & Co. KG Business Report up until FY ended Dec. 2014
Financial Overview
-For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014, the Company generated approximately EUR 1,200 million in unconsolidated sales, reporting sales growth for five years in a row.
New Company
-In 2010, the Company inaugurated a new unit Huf Mexico S de R - in Mexico. (From a press release on June 13, 2010)
-In 2009, the Company inaugurated a new subsidiary Yantai Huf Tools Co., Ltd. in China .(From a press release on June 22, 2009)
-In 2008, Shanghai Huf announced the opening of new injection moulding plant and paint shop. (From a press release on Nov 11, 2008)
-In 2007, the Company established Huf India Private Limited and Huf Japan.
-In 2005, the Company established Huf Romania.
Developments Outside Germany
<U.S.>
-In 2014, Huf North America Automotive Parts Manufacturing, Corp. began operation of its new paint facility in Greeneville, Tennessee (U.S.). The existing factory was extended with an addition of 5,300 square meters. It will house automated paint application facilities, as well as plastic injection molding. The new plant has the capacity to produce around 12.5 million door handles per year. With the new plant in operation, the Company has the capacity to produce 72.5 million door handles worldwide per year for its customers in the automotive industry. A further paint plant is currently being constructed in Pune, India, in order to supply automotive manufacturers there. Beginning in 2015, the Company plans to paint around 3.5 million door handles there. (From a press release on October 14, 2014)
<India>
-In 2012, Huf India Private Limited moved to the newly erected plant in Pune, India on April 1, 2012.
<Spain, Portugal>
-In 2010, the Company and Ficosa finished their collaboration in Spain and Portugal. Under the agreement, the Company will take over equal share joint ventures, Huf Espana S.A.(El Burgo de Osma, Spain) and Huf Portuguesa Lda.(Tondela, Portugal), making them wholly owned as of July 20, 2010. With this acquisition, the Company is expanding its passive entry systems, electronic locking systems, electronic tailgate systems and car access systems operations.
Acquisition
-In 2011, the Company announced that Huf Electronics GmbH has agreed to buy tire pressure monitoring business from BorgWarner. The agreement includes the purchase of a manufacturing facility in Bretten, Germany, which employs approximately 230 people. The tire pressure monitoring business was acquired in 2005 by BorgWarne as a part of the BERU diesel cold start and ignition systems business.
Awards
| Year | Award | Presented by | Award winner |
| 2014 | World Excellence Silver Award 2013 | Ford | Huf Espana (Spain) |
| 2012 | World Excellence Gold Award 2012 | Ford | Huf Espana (Spain) |
| 2012 | Supplier of the Year | GM | Huf Polska (Poland) |
| 2012 | Excellent Quality Award | Chery | Yantai Huf (China) |
| 2012 | Best Quality Award | FAW Jiefang | Changchun Huf (China) |
| 2012 | Supplier of Best Quality Control | FAW Group | Yantai Huf (China) |
| 2012 | Excellent Supplier Prize | SAIC | Shanghai Huf (China) |
R&D Structure
-More than 430 designers and technicians working in the offices in Germany, U.S., Romania, India, Brazil and China are engaged in research and development.
Product Development
Electronics in Door handle
-The Company has developed various type of door handles for Passive Entry systems. It produces its own electronic components, and has many years experience in the assembly and potting process. It also developed door handles with integrated lighting which indicates the status of the door handle.
Tailgate Emblem Closures & Electronic Door Handles
-In 2014, the Company has developed tailgate emblem closures and electronic door handles that react to "conductor's gestures," unlocking or opening doors and tailgates. In order to be outfitted with this product, the vehicle must be equipped with a passive entry system. As soon as the vehicle recognizes the correct key, the trunk or doors can be unlocked or opened with a pre-defined hand motion (a gesture) over the door handle or tailgate emblem. (From a press release on October 14, 2014)
Power Tailgate System
-An actuator and rear control unit control the open/close of the rear door. The Company developed an intelligent servo lock which automatically tightens the door of the trunk after the lock is reached into the pre catch.
-Silent latch: This lock eliminates the complete opening noise and provides a pleasant feeling of opening. Patent applied.
-Kick sensor: The Company developed a sensor - activated by the driver's foot movement - the trunk opens. Authorization to access the vehicle is controlled by the car keys or ID transmitter. As of September 2013, this sensor is available in 6 series car models as an option.
-Multi-function Rear Bar: Lighting, rear actuation, locking cylinder and the camera are integrated in a bar.
-Multi-function Emblem: Camera and locking cylinder are integrated in an emblem.
New Door Handle with an Integrated Camera
-In 2014, the Company announced that it has developed a new door handle with an integrated camera. As standard, it is outfitted with electronics for a passive vehicle entry system and it can be controlled with gestures. The door handle extends as soon as the system in the exterior handle recognizes that the driver with the correct key is nearby, and is requesting that the handle be extended with the correct gesture. When the handle is lifted, the door opens electronically. When the driver gets into the car, the handle extends slightly, and the camera behind the handle is shifted into the correct position. It transmits an image of traffic behind the car to a display in the door or on the dashboard. In this way, the camera in the door handle functionally replaces the exterior mirror. The camera also offers better resolution and an optimal field of vision, eliminating the blind spot. (From a press release on October 14, 2014)
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
-In August 2013, it's announced that Huf Electronics Bretten will supply tire pressure monitoring equipment to WABCO's next generation tire pressure monitoring system for trucks, buses and trailers. Building on its IVTM system, WABCO expects to offer its customers a choice of internally or externally mounted tire sensors or a mix of both types of sensors on new commercial vehicles. In the new system, WABCO will leverage the additional tire temperature monitoring capability of the internal sensor technology from Huf Electronics Bretten. WABCO's new system will be available to original equipment manufacturers and in the aftermarket in the second half of 2014.
-The Company was the first to develop components for the new access and immobilization systems "Passive Entry" and "Keyless Go" for the automotive industry.
-In FY2007, the Company presented innovation: ID transmitter with Touch Screen.
-In FY2006, the Company presented innovations: Display key and Design door handle.
Investment Outside Germany
<India>
-In 2012, the Company set up a new plant in Pune, India.
<China>
-In 2011, the Company announced that it has opened a new production facility in Changchun, Jilin province, China. The new plant will produce automotive components such as keys, steering column locks and door handles.
Data
Number of Employees
| Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011 | |
| Total | Approx. 7,000 | Approx. 7,000 | 6,800 | 6,350 |
Sales |
(in million Euro) |
| FY ended Dec. 31, 2014 | FY ended Dec. 31, 2013 | FY ended Dec. 31, 2012 | FY ended Dec. 31, 2011 | FY ended Dec. 31, 2010 | |
| Sales (Unconsolidated) | Approx. 1,200 | Approx. 1,100 | 1,050 | 905 | 847 |