Business Times Issue 105 | Henniges Automotive | Oct 24

DRIVING
INNOVATION
LARRY WILLIAMS’ VISION FOR
HENNIGES AUTOMOTIVE
BUSINESS TIMES

HENN
AUTOM
AUTOMOTIVE
2 BUSINESS TIMES MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2024

FEATURE
IGES
OTIVE
BUSINESS-TIMESMEDIA.COM
3

SUBJECT AUTOMOTIVE
4 BUSINESS TIMES MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2024

FEATURE
DRIVING
INNOVATION
LARRY WILLIAMS’ VISION FOR
HENNIGES AUTOMOTIVE
Project by:
Malvern Kandemwa
Words by:
Michelle Duncan
Larry Williams is the President
and Chief Executive Officer of
Henniges Automotive, a leading
global supplier of highly engineered
sealing and anti-vibration
solutions for the automotive
industry. With extensive experience
in the automotive sector,
Larry has successfully guided
Henniges Automotive toward innovation,
operational excellence,
and market expansion, positioning
the company as a key player
in the automotive supply chain.
After joining Henniges Automotive
in 2003 as CFO, Larry Williams
was elevated to interim CEO in
2015. By 2019, he officially assumed
the role of President and CEO following
the company’s acquisition
by a Chinese organisation. This
marked a significant milestone
in Larry’s career and a major advancement
for the company.
“It was an opportunity to lead
the company under new ownership,”
Larry Williams explains.
“We had recently been acquired
by AVIC Automotive, a Chinese
state-owned entity, which had
a long-term vision for the company’s
growth. I saw this as a
chance to implement a strategy
that would not only drive topline
growth and business expansion
but also strengthen the
company’s culture.”
Larry envisions the opportunity
unfolding through both local
and global growth, driven
by a solid financial foundation.
He emphasises that global expansion
is inherently tied to local
production, ensuring that
as Henniges grows internationally,
it also strengthens its local
manufacturing capabilities. This
approach not only supports the
company’s global ambitions but
also fosters sustainable development
within the regions where
Henniges operates.
BUSINESS-TIMESMEDIA.COM
5

AUTOMOTIVE
“We aim to expand in the Chinese
market by leveraging the
market strength of our owners
and capitalising on the growing
automotive sector in China,” Larry
Williams shares. “However, it’s
equally important to continue
building on our strong foundation
in North America. Financially,
we are backed by long-term
strategic owners who fully support
our vision, and the company
is profitable. Henniges is a very
healthy, growing company.”
UNDER WILLIAMS’
LEADERSHIP, HENNIGES
HAS REINFORCED
ITS COMMITMENT TO
QUALITY AND CUSTOMER
SATISFACTION,
WHICH HAS BEEN A
CORNERSTONE OF ITS
SUCCESS.
Henniges Automotive specialises
in providing highly engineered
sealing and anti-vibration solutions
for the automotive industry.
The company’s products are
critical components that contribute
to vehicle safety, comfort,
and overall performance.
These include door seals, window
seals, trunk seals, and other
rubber-to-metal bonded components
that are designed to reduce
noise, vibration, and harshness
(NVH) in vehicles. Henniges
serves a diverse clientele that includes
some of the world’s leading
automotive manufacturers,
providing them with tailored
solutions that meet the specific
needs of each vehicle model.
Under Williams’ leadership, Henniges
has reinforced its commitment
to quality and customer
satisfaction, which has been a
cornerstone of its success. The
company operates on a global
scale, with manufacturing
facilities and technical centres
strategically located in North
America, Europe, and Asia. This
global presence allows Henniges
to serve its customers efficiently,
ensuring prompt delivery and local
support, which are crucial in
the highly competitive automotive
industry.
OPERATIONS
Henniges consists of 19 manufacturing
sites in eight countries
with annual sales in excess of $1
billion and its operations are centred
around delivering high-quality
products through advanced
manufacturing processes. The
company opened a new European
Headquarters and Technical
Centre in the Czech Republic, a
35,800 square-foot facility aimed
at enhancing their engineering
capabilities and constructed the
company’s largest manufacturing
facility in China. They employ
ultramodern technologies
in its production facilities, ensuring
that each product meets
stringent quality standards. The
operations are supported by a
strong supply chain network that
is carefully managed to keep efficiency
and minimise lead times.
One of the key aspects of Henniges’
operations is its focus on
continuous improvement. The
company employs lean manufacturing
principles across its facilities
to enhance productivity
and reduce waste. This commitment
to operational excellence
has enabled Henniges to keep a
competitive edge in the industry,
even as it faces challenges such
as fluctuating raw material costs
and the need for rapid adaptation
to new automotive technologies.
Larry emphasises that local manufacturing
is crucial in today’s
global environment. “We focus
on producing our products
within the country for that specific
market,” he explains. “For
instance, what we produce in
China stays in China, and what
we manufacture in North America,
whether in the US or Mexico,
largely remains within those regions.
We’re not seeking out lowcost
labour markets to relocate
jobs and exploit those advantages.
Our priority is to maintain
production close to where our
products are needed, ensuring
quality and efficiency while supporting
local economies.”
THE COMPANY EMPLOYS
LEAN MANUFACTURING
PRINCIPLES ACROSS ITS
FACILITIES TO ENHANCE
PRODUCTIVITY AND
REDUCE WASTE.
6
BUSINESS TIMES MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2024

The future of clamping profiles
has a name.
bfc – the innovative cut.
The bfc Group is a leading manufacturer of metallic lanced and stretched clamping
profiles, which are used as a stabilizing but flexible carrier for rubber seals. Due to its
high development competence and innovative strength, bfc has become an important
strategic partner of Henniges Automotive.
With production sites in North and Central America, Europe and Asia,
bfc is globally positioned and represented wherever it can support its
customers with high flexibility and short time to market. bfc works closely
with its customers and develops solutions according to their individual
requirements. We see ourselves as a true partner throughout the entire
value creation process, from the first inquiry to the completion of product
approval. bfc is therefore a valued adviser and agile, creative partner
for its customers.
A high vertical integrity of processes offers bfc the possibility to drive
superior solutions and to meet the consistently growing market requirements.
The development department has many years of specific technical
knowledge that is second to none. All machines and tools for production of
the lanced clamping profiles are developed and manufactured completely
in-house by bfc’s tool shop. This enables flexible intervention in the process
at any time and thus optimum support for the customer.
At a time when climate protection is increasingly at the center of economic
decisions, bfc has established itself as a pioneer in sustainability and
innovation. Since the beginning of 2024, bfc has been reporting the
Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) for each of its products, relying on the
„Cradle to Gate“ method, which covers the entire production process from
raw material extraction to leaving the factory. In this way, it makes a
significant contribution to transparency and environmental protection.
This approach allows the company to quantify exactly how much CO 2
emissions are generated during the production of a product. This gives
customers a clear view of the environmental impact of their purchasing
decisions. Another highlight of bfc is the development of innovative
products that further reduce CO 2
emissions. For example, new materials,
new patterns/designs and manufacturing processes have been introduced
that require less raw material use.
Customers appreciate the company‘s transparency and commitment, and
experts also praise its pioneering role in sustainability. Sales have increased
since the introduction of the PCF disclosures, which shows that conscious
consumers are willing to prefer sustainable products.
The bfc Group has a longstanding strategic partnership with Henniges
Automotive. Together, several significant new product developments have
been launched that will decisively increase the competitiveness of bfc and
Henniges.
The markets of the future will always confront us with new challenges. bfc
sees itself well equipped to meet these challenges with a young, dynamic
team that is stronger than ever after the acquisition of Arrowhead in 2023
and the establishment of a new production plant in Spain this year.
bfc is fast, flexible, solution-oriented, innovative and globally
positioned. We therefore see ourselves as the ideal partner
who knows how to support its customers and make decisive
contributions, allowing them to achieve their own goals.
info@bfc-profile.com
www.bfc-profile.com
Global Headquaters
bfc Fahrzeugteile GmbH
Industriestr. 17
74321 Bietigheim-Bissingen
Germany
P +49 7142 788909-0
North American HQ
bfc Profile USA
4545 Johnston Parkway
Cleveland, OH 44128
United States of America
Asia Pacific HQ
bfc Shanghai Metal Carrier Co. Ltd
B2, No502 Tianying Road
Qingpu County, Shanghai 201712
Republic of China
P +1 216 581 1500 BUSINESS-TIMESMEDIA.COM
P +86 21 592 271 82
7

AUTOMOTIVE
INFRASTRUCTURE
UPGRADES
Henniges Automotive has undertaken
significant infrastructure
upgrades to enhance its
manufacturing capabilities and
support its growth strategy.
These upgrades have included
the modernization of existing
facilities and the expansion
of production capacity to meet
the increasing demand for advanced
sealing and anti-vibration
solutions.
A key component of these infrastructure
improvements has
been the integration of advanced
automation and robotics into the
manufacturing process. This has
not only increased production
efficiency but also improved the
consistency and precision of the
products. Additionally, Henniges
has invested in the development
of its R&D facilities to foster innovation
and support the creation
of new products that meet the
evolving needs of the automotive
industry.
These infrastructure upgrades
have also extended to the company’s
IT systems, where Henniges
has implemented advanced
data analytics and enterprise resource
planning (ERP) systems.
These systems have enhanced
the company’s ability to monitor
and manage operations in
real-time, leading to better decision-making
and a more agile
response to market changes.
8
BUSINESS TIMES MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2024

FEATURE
Larry elaborates on the company’s
operational strategy, stating,
“We’ve implemented what we
call ‘the Henniges Production
System,’ which closely resembles
the Toyota Production System. It
focuses on continuous improvement,
lean principles, and making
incremental enhancements
every day to drive operational
efficiency.”
He highlights the role of automation
and robotics in this strategy:
“We’re exploring ways to incorporate
automation and robotics
to handle some of the more
routine, manual tasks. This approach
allows us to elevate the
skill level of our workforce, transitioning
from basic manual labour
to managing and improving
robotic systems. It’s not just
about reducing headcount; it’s
about transforming the skill set
required and addressing gaps
in our workforce where finding
qualified employees is challenging.”
Larry also notes the company’s
success in retaining employees:
“Once we find the right people,
they tend to stay with us due
to our strong company culture
and the opportunities for career
advancement. We provide our
employees with the freedom to
shape their careers based on
their ambitions and efforts. Being
a global company offers numerous
opportunities to work in
diverse cultures and locations.
With 19 factories across eight
countries, our employees can
gain international experience
and further their careers in various
global contexts.”
BUSINESS-TIMESMEDIA.COM
9

FEATURE
STRATEGIC
PARTNERSHIPS
Strategic partnerships have
been a cornerstone of Henniges
Automotive’s success. Recognizing
the importance of collaboration
in driving innovation and
growth, Williams has prioritised
building strong relationships
with key players in the automotive
industry, including suppliers,
customers, and technology
partners.
Henniges’ partnerships with
automotive OEMs (Original
Equipment Manufacturers) are
particularly significant. These
collaborations have enabled the
company to work closely with vehicle
manufacturers during the
design and development phases,
ensuring that Henniges’ products
are perfectly tailored to the specific
requirements of each vehicle.
This close cooperation has not
only strengthened customer relationships
but has also positioned
Henniges as a preferred supplier
for many leading automakers.
Larry also emphasised the advantages
of long-term partnerships,
particularly in relation to capital
equipment expenditures. “One
of the biggest benefits of having
long-term partners is in managing
our capital equipment investments.
We collaborate closely with
our vendors to explore innovative
approaches for manufacturing
our products as we launch innovative
programs. This collaboration
helps us find ways to reduce our
capital expenditure while simultaneously
enhancing operational
efficiency,” he explains.
BUSINESS-TIMESMEDIA.COM
11

AUTOMOTIVE
He further elaborates on the process:
“By working together with
equipment suppliers, we can
develop best manufacturing
solutions rather than simply purchasing
off-the-shelf equipment
or dictating to suppliers how they
should perform their roles. Our
expertise lies in manufacturing,
not in designing equipment, so
leveraging the suppliers’ knowledge
and experience leads to
more effective and cost-efficient
solutions.”
Larry underscores that successful
strategic partnerships require
mutual benefit: “For these longterm
partnerships to be effective,
they must create a win-win scenario
for both parties. It’s about
finding shared value and achieving
the best outcomes for both
sides.”
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT
HENNIGES AUTOMOTIVE
HENNIGESAUTOMOTIVE.COM
12

FEATURE
BUSINESS-TIMESMEDIA.COM
13

Henniges Automotive
hennigesautomotive.com
Hranice,
Henniges Automotive,
s.r.o Olomoucka 306,
753 01 Hranice, Czechia
Produced by