Calsonic Kansei to open new UK R&D centre

Calsonic Kansei, a supplier of heat exchange, air conditioning, exhaust, interior and electronic automotive components, has created a new R&D centre at Millbrook’s Bedfordshire-based Technology Park in the UK.

The company will officially open the new centre on 28 June. Cansonic Kansei is one of several companies which in the future are expected to locate at Millbrook which wants to be seen as a ‘new’ centre for innovation and technological developments within the automotive industry.

Few will be aware that before the arrival of the Millbrook Proving Ground to Lidlington, Bedfordshire, launched by Vauxhall Motors (part of General Motors) in the 1970s, the Luton-based company had its own test track and R&D facilities at Chaul End, near Vauxhall’s former car and van manufacturing plant in the town, and the brain-wave of then Vauxhall chief engineer Maurice Platt and followed through by his successor John Alden (of slant-four engine fame).

When GM quit the UK as its European R&D base in favour of Germany, it sold Millbrook to be acquired (not by a car-maker) but by venture capitalists Rutland Partners in October 2013. It remains to be seen how Millbrook will evolve in the years ahead. It will no doubt closely monitor the progress of its ‘rival’, Horiba MIRA, the only other major ‘independent’ automotive test facility in the UK with a high-speed test track.

It remains to be seen also how Calsonic Kansei’s new R&D facilities will not only integrate with other R&D facilities in the group, but the manner in which it works to expand the company’s technology presence within the European and world automotive scene.

For the Japanese company certainly has widened its horizons since it first arrived in the UK, making capital out of the growing presence of Japanese car-makers in the UK. Indeed, the UK has become almost exclusively a Japanese car manufacturing location (Honda, Nissan and Toyota) with German-owned BMW and its Mini production in Oxford and JaguarLandRover that is Indian-owned, being the exceptions.

Calsonic Kansei Europe supplies of heat exchange, air conditioning, exhaust, interior, and electronic automotive components. Headquartered in the UK, it has operations spread throughout Europe in Spain, Romania, Russia, France and Germany.

The European arm of course is a subsidiary of Calsonic Kansei Corporation based in Japan. Calsonic Kansei Europe forms part of a network of 62 operations in over 16 countries including Japan, China, Thailand, India, US, Mexico and Brazil.

As such Calsonic Kansei can harness the global diversity of the group and draw upon the expertise and best practice in other regions to provide global delivery solutions to customers.

Like many Japanese companies, Calsonic Kansei is committed to lean manufacture and elimination of waste throughout its production processes. And indeed, the Japanese have been responsible for changing the mind-set of vehicle and component manufacture, not only in the UK but throughout Europe as they spread their philosophies far and wide.

                                       Changing the mind-set

Calsonic Kansei also embraces and encourages a Monozukuri mind-set – namely the entire art and science of making things being taken from the Japanese words “mono” (thing) and “zukuri” (the process of making) – to seek continuous improvement throughout the entire product process; from the initial product design through to production and delivery.

Based in Llanelli, Wales, Cansonic Kansei has a technology centre that is primarily engaged in the design and development of products for European customers, and maintains close links with the advanced R&D centre in Japan.

The Technology Centre is home to the company’s vehicle and system test facilities including its climatic wind tunnel and acoustic lab. The Llanelli Site dates back to 1943 and has an established history in delivering quality heat exchange products for Western Europe, mostly to Japanese automakers in Europe.

Products include: radiators, condensors, charge air coolers, oil coolers, motor fan assembly, cooling module assembly, HVAC (heating ventilation and air conditioning) module assembly.

Calsonic Kansei also has operations in the north-east of the UK at Washington and Sunderland, close to Nissan Motor Manufacturing UK (NMUK).

The Washington site is primarily engaged in the manufacture of exhaust products and climate systems such as HVAC units. Based within a short distance from Nissan’s facility, the Washington plant delivers kaizen (continuous improvement) and just-in-time (JIT) influenced products.

The Washington site is deeply integrated with NMUK strategy as it operates a number of on-site assembly lines within NMUK. This covers assembly of cockpit modules, instrument clusters and HVAC units for JIT line-side delivery to the production line.

Calsonic Kansei’s Sunderland production facility is primarily engaged in the manufacture of interior components for use in on-site operations at NMUK. Products produced include: instrument panels, centre console mouldings and other moulded and painted interior components.

It will be interesting to see what further changes in mind-set Calsonic Kansei can bring about through its new R&D centre.

COMMENT. Rutland Partners has maintained a low profile since its acquisition of Millbrook. Describing itself as a catalyst for change, Rutland owns diverse businesses such as wild bird food specialist Guardman, eating houses Pizza Hut and electronics outlet Maplin.

Rutland adds it is an "investor with a difference, focused on special situations operational change and turnaround". It continues "What differentiates us is the commitment and the quality of the relationships we build."

In the context of Millbrook and its three vehicle testing areas set in Bedfordshire countryside adjacent to a golf course, Rutland no doubt will be looking to the return it can achieve through its investment.

In that context, it is quite a different investor to that of Horiba, a Japanese company with a strong industrial and commercial heritage in the design and manufacture of high-quality testing equipment. Its return from the former MIRA Proving Ground and test facilities will therefore be quite different to those of Rutland with Millbrook. Horiba is world renowned for the expertise it brings to the party.

Whether Rutland Partners is investing in Millbrook for the long haul, remains to be seen. It will, as part of its strategy of enhancing Millbrook, be keen to see other businesses like Calsonic Kansei follow suit. The more the merrier to build both the income and the 'image' of the entire facilities.

In due course, Millbrook will require investment to bolster its offerings to industry, most notably the “bowl” which is used for various exhibitions and automotive industry gatherings.

 COMMENT. Rutland Partners has maintained a low profile since its acquisition of Millbrook. Describing itself as a catalyst for change, Rutland owns diverse businesses such as wild bird food specialist Guardman, eating houses Pizza Hut and electronics outlet Maplin.

Rutland adds it is an "investor with a difference, focused on special situations operational change and turnaround". It continues "What differentiates us is the commitment and the quality of the relationships we build."

In the context of Millbrook and its three vehicle testing areas set in Bedfordshire countryside adjacent to a golf course, Rutland no doubt will be looking to the return it can achieve through its investment.

In that context, it is quite a different investor to that of Horiba, a Japanese company with a strong industrial and commercial heritage in the design and manufacture of high-quality testing equipment. Its return from the former MIRA Proving Ground and test facilities will therefore be quite different to those of Rutland with Millbrook. Horiba is world renowned for the expertise it brings to the party.

Whether Rutland Partners is investing in Millbrook for the long haul, remains to be seen. It will, as part of its strategy of enhancing Millbrook, be keen to see other businesses like Calsonic Kansei follow suit. The more the merrier to build both the income and the 'image' of the entire facilities.

In due course, Millbrook will require investment to bolster its offerings to industry, most notably the “bowl” which is used for various exhibitions and automotive industry gatherings.

 COMMENT. Rutland Partners has maintained a low profile since its acquisition of Millbrook. Describing itself as a catalyst for change, Rutland owns diverse businesses such as wild bird food specialist Guardman, eating houses Pizza Hut and electronics outlet Maplin.

Rutland adds it is an "investor with a difference, focused on special situations operational change and turnaround". It continues "What differentiates us is the commitment and the quality of the relationships we build."

In the context of Millbrook and its three vehicle testing areas set in Bedfordshire countryside adjacent to a golf course, Rutland no doubt will be looking to the return it can achieve through its investment.

In that context, it is quite a different investor to that of Horiba, a Japanese company with a strong industrial and commercial heritage in the design and manufacture of high-quality testing equipment. Its return from the former MIRA Proving Ground and test facilities will therefore be quite different to those of Rutland with Millbrook. Horiba is world renowned for the expertise it brings to the party.

Whether Rutland Partners is investing in Millbrook for the long haul, remains to be seen. It will, as part of its strategy of enhancing Millbrook, be keen to see other businesses like Calsonic Kansei follow suit. The more the merrier to build both the income and the 'image' of the entire facilities.

In due course, Millbrook will require investment to bolster its offerings to industry, most notably the “bowl” which is used for various exhibitions and automotive industry gatherings.

COMMENT. Rutland Partners has maintained a low profile since its acquisition of Millbrook. Describing itself as a catalyst for change, Rutland owns diverse businesses such as wild bird food specialist Guardman, eating houses Pizza Hut and electronics outlet Maplin.

Rutland adds it is an "investor with a difference, focused on special situations operational change and turnaround". It continues "What differentiates us is the commitment and the quality of the relationships we build."

In the context of Millbrook and its three vehicle testing areas set in Bedfordshire countryside adjacent to a golf course, Rutland no doubt will be looking to the return it can achieve through its investment.

In that context, it is quite a different investor to that of Horiba, a Japanese company with a strong industrial and commercial heritage in the design and manufacture of high-quality testing equipment. Its return from the former MIRA Proving Ground and test facilities will therefore be quite different to those of Rutland with Millbrook. Horiba is world renowned for the expertise it brings to the party.

Whether Rutland Partners is investing in Millbrook for the long haul, remains to be seen. It will, as part of its strategy of enhancing Millbrook, be keen to see other businesses like Calsonic Kansei follow suit. The more the merrier to build both the income and the 'image' of the entire facilities.

In due course, Millbrook will require investment to bolster its offerings to industry, most notably the “bowl” which is used for various exhibitions and automotive industry gatherings.