KW automotive: Group on course for growth 🎥

Founder Klaus Wohlfarth explains everything about the products and the history of KW automotive.

In addition to the development and production of coilover suspensions and suspension components for the aftermarket and the range of accessories for various car manufacturers in the premium segment, the business area of original equipment for special models and super sports cars in the automotive industry is developing positively for the Swabian suspension manufacturer.

In addition to KW suspensions, the KW automotive GmbH group of companies also includes the brands ST suspensions, ap Sport suspensions, LSD Doors and RaceRoom. The group of companies has seven international subsidiaries in the most important markets worldwide, such as China, Japan, Switzerland, Taiwan and the USA.

KW Competition for motorsport
KW has also established itself strongly in factory customer motorsport in recent years and manufactures dampers and suspensions for more and more racing cars from various car manufacturers. Sporty drivers rely on KW coilovers with their five damping variants as well as on the KW Clubsport coilovers with road approval and parts certificate, which have been tested on the Nürburgring Nordschleife.

Successful racing teams worldwide rely on the patented valve technology of KW Competition suspensions from the seven-time overall winner of the 24h Race Nürburgring (2002, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2018), winner of the 24 Hours of Dubai 2017, ADAC GT Masters 2018, ADAC TCR Germany 2018, the Bathurst 12h Race 2019 and the 24h Race Spa-Francorchamps.

Extensions create jobs
In order to meet the increasing demand for its coilover suspensions and damper technologies, the largest construction and expansion measures with an investment volume of 35 million euros in the company history of the KW automotive Group will be completed in the course of 2020.

The first construction phases of the expanded production capacities in the form of modern five-axis machining centers, CNC lathes and the newly created sheet metal processing with laser cutting and laser welding systems as well as folding machines are already in use.

The new administration building with modern office workstations, a development workshop and a canteen was occupied in August. A development workshop was completed at the same time.

Development, production and sales
Around 100 new parking spaces and a park with an extinguishing water pond and quiet zones are being created on the expanded company premises in the Hirschäcker industrial estate in Fichtenberg. More than 300 employees currently work in development, production and sales at the headquarters in Fichtenberg near Stuttgart. The KW automotive Group, which has received an award from the Heilbronn-Franken Chamber of Industry and Commerce, is currently training 28 apprentices from the region.

Planning for just-in-time production
A new logistics center with an automated shuttle and high-bay warehouse is still under construction. This will allow the entire logistics chain to be restructured with interim storage facilities around the world and various prefabricated chassis assemblies to be kept centrally in Fichtenberg ready for final just-in-time production.

Due to the high vertical range of manufacture of almost 95 percent and as a manufacturer of a wide variety of suspension solutions for almost every automobile, KW-Fahrwerkmanufaktur more than lives up to its reputation as the innovation engine of an industry and market leader for individual suspension systems.

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