German Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited the KIRCHHOFF Automotive stand at the IAA Mobility in Munich. J. Wolfgang Kirchhoff (Chairman of the Board and CEO of KIRCHHOFF Automotive) presented him with a B-pillar made from the innovative SIBORA steel grade, which the company developed in collaboration with Volkswagen and other development partners.
Focus on innovative steel technology
The hot-formed B-pillar made of silicon-boron steel was recently awarded the Swedish Steel Prize. Particularly noteworthy is the variable hardness adjustment achieved through different temperature control in the production process. “We develop for our customers according to their priorities,” said J. Wolfgang Kirchhoff, explaining this year’s trade fair motto, “Engineered for your Needs.” “The priorities may lie in costs, lightweight automotive construction, or, in particular, sustainability. We achieve these goals through a wide variety of materials and manufacturing processes.”
Personal tribute by the Federal Chancellor
Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who visited the stand together with Minister President Markus Söder (Bavaria), Minister President Winfried Kretschmann (Baden-Württemberg), Federal Minister of Transport Patrick Schnieder, Federal Minister of Economics Katherina Reiche, and VDA President Hildegard Müller, praised the company’s innovative strength. “This is an example of how we also have high-performance supplier companies in North Rhine-Westphalia that produce worldwide and are recognized globally,” said Friedrich Merz. The Federal Chancellor, who knows the Kirchhoff family from their shared neighborhood in the Sauerland region, warmly thanked the three brothers J. Wolfgang Kirchhoff, Arndt G. Kirchhoff (Chairman of the Supervisory Board of the KIRCHHOFF Group), and Dr. Johannes F. Kirchhoff (Chairman of the Management Board of KIRCHHOFF Ecotec) and emphasized: “The KIRCHHOFF Group is an important company and an important employer, especially in South Westphalia.” In closing, he wished them “every success in the further development of the company in the coming years and decades.”
KIRCHHOFF Automotive will be exhibiting at IAA MOBILITY until September 12 at booth C30 in Hall B1.
