Where does the big KLM bird fly us this time???
Direction Sao Paolo Brazil, for another factory tour of suppliers, part of our purchase manager overseas (Jerry) training program….
Impressive skyline for sure…:)
oh, Jerry found already what’s important…:)
me too… Brazil is a country for meat lovers, let’s start at lunch…:)
First supplier lunch, hospitality here is second to none!!
and yes… they do have APE here too…:)
Fusca’s everywhere… Fusca is the local Brazilian “nickname” for the beetle… and yes, there’s still plenty on the road here!
ok, let’s get to work here… first factory was a steering box and all steering box components manufacturer… Now TRW is bought by ZF we face difficulties in supply, to have an alternative right in your back pocket is not an extra ordinary luxury thing in this situation…
We start at the casting and raw material warehouse…
To continu in the production… we’re very satisfied what we see! the factory came a LOOOOOONG way since our last visit here in 2009!
Lots of CNC machines to choose from…:)
Motivated people, even here in the packing division!
Lots of special machines… Gonzo, this one You have to know!
And finally the assembly…. a lot of skilled craftsmen that really know what they do… high quality for sure!
Oh and they make steering boxes for the old Brazilian kombi, as far as we know every Kombi imported from Brazil in Europe for sure need one of those!!
And finally these lovely girls will make sure all our paperwork will be going smooth!
Second we visit a factory that make small locks, handles, catches, receivers etc… small parts and a lot like key barrels etc mainly in zinc alloy… impressive machinery!
and a LOT of tooling!
This is how Zinc Alloy comes out of the form after being injected and cooled down!…
Cleaning of the moulds for the next process!
Very impressive machinery…
Do you recognise this part???
He Mauci, where you think you’re going????
Thanks for bringing us here buddy!
The most enthusiast sales team of them all??
Jerry checking on samples…
Ok day one is over, tomorrow we see more… now first we have to find a hotel! Seems we don’t have a reservation yet!