News - Neef Automotive

	News - October 2006

	50% bigger for you! – "Visions are achievable!" over 300 m² at EuroBLECH 2006! This year 1,400 exhibitors from 30 countries will once again be presenting new sheet metal working technologies at EuroBLECH. An exhibition area of over 72,000 square metres should “capture” more than 60,000 visitors. Constructors, buyers, quality managers and production specialists can find out all about innovative developments and trends. Here the industry can find long-term ideas and solutions for staying ahead of the competition in a global market. Two years ago, Stahlo, Starcon, Neef, Aluminal and LKH exhibited for the first time as a value added chain at the world’s largest trade fair for the sheet metal market, and the five companies will again be represented in 2006 – this time over 300 sq.m. This will make the exhibition area half as big again! This is the result of the keen interest and high visitor numbers in 2004, and proves we are right to combine the strengths of our five companies and position ourselves as an integrated process chain in the modern materials of steel, aluminium and plastic: The capacity of the companies, which belong to the internationally successful Friedhelm Loh Group, ranges from the “classic” steel service (Stahlo) and the specialisation in profile cuts as well as higher and ultra-high-strength steels (Starcon), through the manufacture of profiled sheet metal parts and components (Neef) and the finishing of surfaces with pure aluminium (Aluminal), to the processing of mixed components of metal and plastic (LKH). This range of capacity is unique in the market – and it will significantly increase the ability to compete of those customers who make use of it! Euroblech 2006 is taking place in Hannover from 24 to 28 October. You will find us in Hall 14, Stand E 06. We extend a warm invitation to all customers, interested parties and readers to visit our stand at the fair! Website: www.euro-blech.de

	IZB International Suppliers Fair in Wolfsburg Neef Automotive is exhibiting at the International Suppliers Fair (IZB) in Wolfsburg for the first time this year. Well-known suppliers from home and abroad meet here from 11-13 October 2006 under the IZB slogan “Connecting Car Competence”. Together with colleagues from Stahlo, Starcon, Aluminal and LKH synthetics technology we are presenting our products from the field of automotives. We are using the IZB as a communication platform, with the aim of gaining important contacts. You will find Neef Automotive as one of around 580 exhibitors in Hall 6, Stand 314. Website: www.izb-online.com


	News - January 2006

Audi Q 7 (Source: AUTO Straßenverkehr, edition 22/2005)	Gera as production site for the AUDI Q7 Along with the acquisition of component parts manufacture for the AUDI Q7, introduced to market at the end of 2005 came the question of selecting the production site. Discussions at the time were centred around the following aspects: Optimum production of component parts/welding components Internal logistics Logistical links to the customer In the end, Gera was chosen as the production site, as it was/is only here that it was possible to map the entire process chain from the production of component parts to the manufacture of complex assembly parts. Moreover, there is an optimum flow of materials in Gera from arrival, through production, to dispatch. A further advantage was the distance from the end customer, who made big savings on freight costs as a result.


	News - September 2005


The new assembly system in the Gera pressing plant.	Our contribution to the new VW Passat Variant A new state-of-the-art assembly system has come on stream in our pressing plant in Gera with the start-up of the new VW Passat Variant. Under this system concept a high performance adhesive is applied in addition to standard assembly operations such as spot welding, projection welding and inert gas shielded arc welding, in order to achieve maximum component stability. Once assembled the components then undergo induction heating to set the adhesive. This linking of individual stages into one compact operating system avoids interfaces between essential processes. This effectively leads to a high level of process stability, as well as improved logistical procedures.


	News - Archive

	After a record-breaking phase of construction – just 6 months after the first ground breaking – production in Gera started up according to schedule on 03.01.2005. Since then profiled sheet metal parts and components made from steel, high and ultra-high-strength steels, stainless steel and aluminium have been produced over an area of approx. 14,000 square metres in Gera for car manufacturers including VW, Audi, Porsche, Daimler-Chrysler, BMW and suppliers including Brose and Tower Automotive. Particularly in Gera’s favour were the infrastructure and the physical proximity to our target customers - the OEM's and automotive suppliers in Thuringia Saxony and Bavaria - as well as the direct link to STARCON, the new steel service centre of our group of companies. Further advantages of the site have emerged as the EU has expanded eastwards. The new plant has already been certified in compliance with DIN ISO / TS 16949:2002 and cutting edge production technologies implemented: Large presses between 630 – 1,600 t Assembly systems for spot welding, MIG welding, riveting and bonding Kanban system in the assembly are Just in time / Just in sequence production Ecologically state-of-the-art With our ultra-modern plant, our long years of experience and the potential of the LOMETAL association, we offer our customers significant value added in comparison with our competitors.