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MAHLE and Hirschvogel Found Joint Venture in Brazil 28.05.08 / 10:22
The Hirschvogel Umformtechnik GmbH and MAHLE founded the joint venture MAHLE HIRSCHVOGEL FORJAS S.A. in Brazil via MAHLE Metal Leve S.A., the Brazilian MAHLE subsidiary. The joint venture emerged from the existing company Forjas Brasileiras S.A. in Queimados near Rio de Janeiro. The existing shareholders are the Brazilian Adler family (76.8 %), the Hirschvogel Umformtechnik GmbH (15.4 %) and MAHLE Brockhaus GmbH (7.8 %). In the new company MAHLE will hold 51 % of the shares and Hirschvogel 49 %.
The company has approx. 600 employees and achieved a turnover of 196 million reais (approx. EUR 75 million) in 2007. MAHLE HIRSCHVOGEL FORJAS S.A. is the third largest forge in Brazil and manufactures connecting rods, components for diesel injection systems, and other parts for the automotive industry. Prof. Dr. Heinz K. Junker, Chairman of the Management Board of the MAHLE Group, explains: “In the past, Forjas Brasileiras was already the largest supplier of connecting rods in South America and the main supplier of billets for connecting rods finish-machined at MAHLE for the automotive industry. As the existing family shareholders were willing to sell their shares in the company, it was possible for us to found this majority joint venture together with Hirschvogel. This enables us to further expand our production spectrum in the growth market of South America, to increase our own added value, and to supply our customers locally with high-quality connecting rods and other engine components.”
For Dr. Manfred Hirschvogel, President of the Hirschvogel Umformtechnik GmbH, the reinforced commitment to the former Forjas Brasileiras represents the next logical step in the further internationalization of his company. “This provides us with the opportunity of producing specific Hirschvogel products in Brazil, such as diesel injection components and high-quality parts for the powertrain, and to accompany the growth in the South American automotive industry. With the investments made over the previous years the new company already has an outstanding track record, and with the support of two strong partners it is equipped to face the challenges of the future.”
The MAHLE Group is among the 30 largest suppliers to the automotive industry worldwide. As a leading manufacturer of components and systems for combustion engines as well as engine peripherals, MAHLE ranks among the top three systems suppliers for piston systems, cylinder components, valve train systems, air management systems and liquid management systems. MAHLE has around 48,000 employees at 110 production plants and in seven research and development centers. In 2007, MAHLE achieved a turnover of over EUR 5 billion (USD 7.5 billion).
The Hirschvogel Automotive Group, headquartered in Denklingen (Upper Bavaria) has over 2,700 employees and a turnover of more than EUR 525 million, making it one of the world’s largest suppliers to the automotive industry within the area of forging and machining. The product spectrum includes ready-for-assembly components for diesel injection systems and the powertrain.
Update:  20.01.2012