BEST: Visteon honors Hydro Aluminium's precision tubing plant in Tønder as one of its "Best in Class" suppliers. Standing, from left, are Günter Kraus, head of European Materials Management for Visteon, Hydro's Hugo Ravesloot and Bjarne Thomsen, Visteon chairman and CEO Michael Johnston, and Paul Radkoski, who is Visteon's head of North American Materials Management. (Photo: Visteon Corporation)

Hydro's award in the category Metals Commodity Group was based on breakthrough technical and quality support in optimizing the alloy and the supply chain.

Hydro changed the warehouse and productivity scope while providing good consistent work to help penetrate the air-conditioning lines tube business with technical expertise and quality delivery.

"We believe that Hydro in Tønder can be a model for other Hydro units in its proactive approach toward winning and maintaining new projects with Visteon," says Jan Vasek, purchasing manager for Visteon in Europe.

BENCHMARK: The Tønder facility is the performance benchmark in the Automotive sector's Precision Tubing business unit. (Photo: Terje S. Knudsen)

Visteon is one of Hydro's largest customers of precision tubing, having purchased products and services for approximately €8 million from the European organization in 2004, most from the Tønder site.

This included condenser tubes for brazed condensers as well as radiator tubes for mechanically assembled radiators.

In North America, Hydro Aluminium Precision Tubing generated approximately $35 million in sales revenues from Visteon through the delivery of manifolds, forged compressor pistons, tubing, liquid lines and mechanical HX tubes.

"We view our supplier partners as an extension of our business and continuously work to foster stronger and more collaborative relationships, all with the goal of delivering innovative, cost-effective and high-quality products to our customers," says Paul Radkoski, head of North American materials management for Visteon. "It's a value-based marketplace, and Visteon is focused on creating a value-based supply chain for our customers."

Thomsen notes that in the past Hydro and Visteon won a special recognition award from Ford in North America for improving the corrosion resistance for high-mileage car condensers. "We work well together," he says.

Visteon Corporation is a leading full-service supplier that delivers consumer-driven technology solutions to automotive manufacturers worldwide and through multiple channels within the global automotive aftermarket.

Visteon has about 70,000 employees and a global delivery system of more than 200 technical, manufacturing, sales and service facilities located in 24 countries.

Hydro was one of 18 suppliers honored by the company during a June 2 ceremony at Visteon Village in Van Buren Township, Michigan.

Bjarne Thomsen, who is Hydro's key account manager responsible for Visteon in Europe and Hugo Ravesloot, the head of Hydro's precision tubing plant in Tønder, Denmark, accepted the award on Hydro's behalf.

Visteon's executive management team, including CEO Michael Johnston, took part in the ceremony.

Author: Kevin Widlic