Global automotive and industrial supplier Schaeffler celebrated the grand opening of its new, state-of-the-art Automotive Aftermarket assembly and packaging center in Cuautitlán Izcalli, Mexico.

The facility, known as an Aftermarket Kitting Operation (AKO), will significantly enhance Schaeffler’s ability to offer even more speed, flexibility and delivery reliability to its Automotive Aftermarket customers in the United States, Mexico, Central America and South America.

The festive grand opening celebration featured over 250 invited guests.

“Schaeffler’s philosophy is to be ‘as local as possible and as centrally located as necessary’ – which means we want to be as close to the customer as possible so that we can respond faster to local demand,” said Eric Steinbecher, President – Automotive Aftermarket for Schaeffler in the Americas. “Accordingly, this investment brings our intelligent repair solutions closer and faster to our customers in Mexico and throughout the Americas.”

Herzogenaurach, Germany-based Schaeffler invested over 5 million euros in the project. The sprawling complex can process more than 124,000 items per day through its receiving, packaging and shipping departments. Over 11,000 different components for passenger cars, light and heavy utility vehicles and tractors will be picked, packaged and shipped at the new AKO, whose inventory comprises parts for clutch, clutch-release, engine, transmission and chassis systems for the North American and Latin American markets. In addition, the facility’s administrative and support staff can look forward to cutting-edge workspaces featuring Schaeffler’s acclaimed “New Work” collaborative working environment.

The entire operation encompasses approximately 18,000 square meters (193,750 square feet), which is equivalent to four-and-a-half regulation-sized soccer fields.