KAMAX

The nervous system of fastener production At KAMAX, logistics means not only shipping and moving crates. Above all, it means supply chain management. The department is responsible for the entire internal supply chain, including production control, scheduling, and material flow. Stefanie Hofmann has been with KAMAX for 11 years, is head of supply chain management at the largest KAMAX plant in Homberg (Germany), and has around 100 people on her team. “We feel like the plant's nervous system. It's not just about physically moving material. Our team receives the requirements of our customers. We translate these needs into production orders and distribute the information about what has to be produced, when, and where. In the end, we are also responsible for shipping the parts to our customers. Based on our ERP system, we manage the material flow – in a physical and informal way. It's like the electricity that flows through a person's nerves.” The day always starts with an overview of the previous day with the relevant KPIs and necessary actions. Stefanie also deals with the big issues of the plant. For example, six new machines will be added to the Homberg site next year. “It's a constant switch between strategic planning decisions and day-to-day business. The people on the shop floor have down-to-earth needs and questions. I attach great importance to the fact that people can discuss things with me, and I expect suggestions and ideas. At the same time, I must be able to switch to a bird's eye view at any time.” Incidentally, Stefanie had never heard of KAMAX before applying in 2013. However, her experiences as a project engineer in the first few years, the opportunity to play a role in shaping the company, and the authentic people convinced her to stay with us for more than a decade. “Here, I can be who I really am. I have experienced people putting on their business masks as soon as they start working in other companies. Here, we talk turkey. It is also very familiar at the individual locations, even though the company is internationally positioned and thus offers many opportunities. People are genuinely interested in you.”

Solidarity with those affected by torrential rain and flooding🖤   On October 29th, the province of Valencia, the employees of our plant in the Valencian region, their loved ones, and their homes were hit by a devastating isolated high-altitude depression (known as DANA), which left a trail of destruction in several towns. The dramatic pictures went around the world.   The most affected areas were in the region of L'Horta Sud and other coastal areas of Valencia, where towns were submerged under water and mud, causing significant damage to countless buildings, roads, and essential services like telephone lines and trains. Tragically, the disaster has claimed 214 lives and left multiple people unaccounted for, adding to the heartache and sense of loss in the region. Families mourn their loved ones, and rescue efforts continue for days as emergency services still search for 32 missing people. This heartbreaking loss of life and uncertainty has deeply shaken the community, which faces not only the material devastation but also the emotional toll of those who have died or are still unaccounted for.   Some of our employees and their communities were directly affected. That we had to help was obvious to everyone. At the end of last week, we organized an initiative to support the cleanup and recovery of some of the affected towns. Cleaning supplies were purchased to assemble cleaning kits, which were delivered to four towns where KAMAX employees reside. Our employees and our management also set off to provide support on the ground. Additionally, we donated school supplies to three schools that were heavily affected in the L'Horta Sud area.   Through these efforts, we hope to make a small contribution to alleviate the difficult circumstances these families face in the aftermath of the disaster.

The art of bolt-making✨ Wire pre-treatment. Cold forming. Heat treatment. Thread rolling. Coating. Final inspection. Shipping. Each of these steps, coordinated like clockwork, enables millions of cars worldwide to be held together. It's an art that takes a long time to learn before you can actually master it. We've been learning for 89 years. So that the best bolts can make your car even better.

How a shiny production looks like✨ One year ago, we officially opened our second production site in Changzhou, China. It is still our youngest plant. Up to 200 people produce on 40 thousand square meters 24,000 tons of new parts annually. Take a flight through the brand-new buildings: Have you ever seen such a shiny production?   #innovation #production #coldforming #fastener

Ownership right from the beginning  From talent to talent developer: Sathursan Tharmaseelan, who has been with KAMAX for over two and a half years, shows how quickly this is possible. We believe in giving young people responsibility and the freedom to decide early on. Experience has shown that this pays off.  This was also the case for Sathursan, who was responsible for analyzing the company's leadership culture as a master's student in 2022, including interviews with the entire global top-level management. He also accompanied all team leaders from production at several locations. It was not an easy job, but it gave him insights and a deeper understanding of KAMAX that would otherwise not have been possible. The results were an important tool for shaping and strengthening a shared understanding of leadership. Sathursan is now a talent developer himself and supports the young talents, to whom he also belonged until then: "It fulfills me to help people find their way." He has also done this before, when he worked with young people as a street worker. But that's not all: together with his team, he designs training modules for managers in the office and production based on his study.  "I have the backing for change, to do things differently than before," says Sathursan. "This trust enables me to do things better."  #people #development #talents #culture  

The best combo: cold❄ & hot🔥 Who doesn't like a waffle with hot cherries and a scoop of vanilla ice cream? This mixture not only makes the dessert particularly delicious but also ensures that our product reaches the perfect state. First, the steel is cold-formed in our presses. It is given its shape in up to six steps. Each step requires a unique tool, which we design and produce ourselves. With unbelievable force, we thus form bolts, complex-form parts, and more every day with over a hundred presses worldwide. A large proportion of the products are also thread-rolled afterward. Then it gets hot. The products enter the furnace, usually at around 900 degrees Celsius. The heat treatment gives the steel certain strength and ductility, specifically according to customer requirements. To increase strength, we can use inert gases for neutral quenching and tempering, as well as carburizing. Watch the video to taste a bit of the cold-hot mix! #coldforming #heattreatment #fastener #engineering #steel

Fluid flow through the banjo bolt without any risk of chips? Our production process makes it possible. Banjo bolts have a hollow shaft and are used wherever liquids or gases are fed into or out of a component to a pipe or hose. For example, in the oil supply of turbochargers, the connection of brake lines to the brake caliper or other applications include hydraulic components and compressors. The conventional production of banjo bolts involves risks: During the production process, chips and burrs can remain in the center cavity of the bolt. These are created when the axial bore is drilled into the cold-formed blank. The radial holes are drilled from the side of the shaft towards the center to create the connection for the fluid flow. The chips can get caught inside the bolt and cause problems in the application later on when they get loose and are washed into the fluids of bearings or pumps. We have completely eliminated this risk with an all-new production process. By the way, we have already launched the next generation of banjo bolts: Twisted Banjos! DM us for more information. #fastener #banjobolt #innovation #automotive

What can we learn from 89 years of company history?🤔 Change is unstoppable! That’s for sure. Today, KAMAX turns 89 years old. What began with three employees in an old barn in 1935 has become an international company. If our founder, Dr. Rudolf Kellermann, were to walk into our factory halls today, he would hardly recognize them. This is because the changes have progressed inexorably from year to year – driven by innovation and the desire to improve. Take a look at how it all came about! #history #birthday #innovation #fastener

Enhanced performance and significant weight reduction With our innovative bolt head design “KXhead” we use material only where needed, resulting in significant weight reduction and improved functionality. The bolt has a hexagon socket instead of a hexagon head and, therefore, retains the benefits of standard head geometries. Additional advantages include a reduction in head weight of up to 34%, the use of special tools with double grip (inside and outside) for higher torque, and a head that is independent of the shank. #fastener #innovation #lightweight

Indian market leader Maruti Suzuki (MSIL) awarded us with the very prestigious prize for Overall Performance 2023-2024🏆   The Overall Performance category is very demanding as it covers all aspects of support. The Indian market leader, with an almost 50% market share, expects the best results on all levels, which we delivered.    With a deep understanding of the specific requirements and the necessary empathy, the offered customized solutions went far beyond all expectations.   We have been MSIL's strategic partner for several years. From various KAMAX plants around the world, we supply millions of parts annually for vehicle production in India. We will do everything in our power to win the award again in the coming years.    Congratulations to our sales office in Bangalore and all KAMAX colleagues in all plants involved! #performance #award #automotive