(02/20/2017) With revenues of more than $1.5 billion, VAST (Vehicle Access Systems Technology), a strategic partnership of three automotive suppliers - WITTE Automotive, ADAC Automotive and STRATTEC Security Corp. - achieved another record year in 2016. A total of 11,700 employees in 12 countries around the globe are now working on innovative solutions for the automotive world.
“We’re happy to have had a successful and eventful year,” summarized Frank Krejci, President and CEO of STRATTEC and the current VAST Chairman. “We've grown together and VAST’s products are in demand with our customers. We're looking optimistically ahead.”
The 2016 opening of the world's most modern, integrated site for body-color painted exterior door handles in the Czech Republic (photo) set new standards in the industry, confirming VAST’s position as one of the worlds’ premier suppliers of painted door handles. Throughout this year, Krejci said that VAST will continue its expansion, “In 2017, VAST will open a comparable factory in Mexico, will complete the expansion of our paint facility in China, and will begin another construction phase in China.”
VAST is one of the worlds’ technological leaders in the field of mechatronic locking systems, and is continuously investing in the development of innovative system solutions for door, hood, tailgate, and interior access and security systems. “Innovative ability is one of our strengths,” the chairman reports, “that leads to very interesting development orders, such as a flush-mount exterior door handle that is nearly ‘invisible’ and that only extends out when needed; or, our Door Protect System, which was lauded by the automotive industry as a 'best technical concept’. The results of our engineering work have provided the industry with sophisticated products that combine mechanics, electrical components, and electronics in a unique way: for example, intelligent power sliding doors, intelligent camera systems, and even smooth, electronic seat-to-floor latches.”
“With these innovative solutions,” Krejci explained, “VAST will continue to inspire its customers. The International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt offers the perfect platform for this,” said VAST President Phillipe Dequecker, announcing VAST’s participation in this year's IAA. “Although current global political developments may be difficult to predict, I’m confident that our strong partnership will continue to find the right solutions in the future.”