Page 22 - MetalForming June 2009

Link-Motion Presses
Mexican metalformer Gobar Systems leverages mechanical-press technology to boost productivity as well as diversify into nonautomotive markets.
Twenty years ago, Mexican metal- formers had a fairly straightforward path to success, often tied to stamp- ing parts for just one or two customers. For these same companies today, sur- vival has led to market diversification, increased services provided and, often, new manufacturing methods to improve on quality and production rates.
One company that exemplifies such diversification, found just across the border from Brownsville, TX, is Gobar Systems, Inc. Gobar began as an auto- motive stamper supplying interior parts, mainly dashboard stampings, to General Motors and Delphi, among others. Then, a shift to supplying complete subassemblies to this same customer group grew its capabilities even more— taking on value-added operations such as welding, fastening and part inser- tion.
Fast forward to today, where the company is viewed as a comprehensive contract manufacturer that processes sheetmetal, plastics and electronic com- ponents and assemblies. Its 90,000-sq.-
The link-motion design of its newer presses has helped Gobar increase productivi- ty compared to its older, more traditional presses.
20 METALFORMING / JUNE 2009
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ft. facility, launched more than 20 years ago, employs 75, meets worldclass stan- dards and practices lean manufacturing principles. It houses 25 stamping press- es from 66 to 660 tons, and the firm added a second state-of-the-art stamp- ing facility in 1998. Both facilities pro- duce a range of parts for several indus- tries, including automotive airbag components, car-stereo chassis and dashboard components, home-appli- ance parts and assemblies, and fire and safety components for extinguishers and the like. It also operates a sizable plastics division with 87 associates and seven injection-molding machines. Key
customers include Autoliv, General Motors, Delphi, Bosch Systems and Kidde Corp.
Evolving into Non-Automotive
“We realized that our 100-percent automotive roots needed to be diversi- fied when, several years ago, we experi- enced financial issues with a key cus- tomer,” says Rolando Gonzalez Baron, Gobar president and CEO. “At one time we were about 90 percent dedicated to supplying Delphi, and we along with Delphi knew that this was unhealthy. So we set out to diversify to other markets