30 years of Kirchhoff Ireland in Letterkenny - success in the periphery
(© Clive Wasson Photography)
On the 30th of August 2011, the Deputy Head of the German Embassy, Mr Peter Zingraf, attended the 30th anniversary celebration of the German company Kirchhoff in Letterkenny/Donegal. Kirchhoff are a family owned company who came to Ireland in 1981 starting with 17 employees. It has now 100 staff and is a first tier supplier of body parts to BMW Mini, Ford, Volkswagen and General Motors.
Minister of State Mr Brian Hayes T.D. and the SIPTU General President Mr. Jack O'Connor were also in attendance of the anniversary celebration at the company's Letterkenny production plant. Brian Hayes described Kirchhoff as a 'wonderful success story for Ireland'. Jack O'Connor stressed that 'Kirchhoff competes toughly in the automotive industry and nevertheless manages to be successful in the extreme northwest of Europe'. He congratulated the company for its 'impeccable record in terms of staff relations'.
The parent company's Chief Executive, Mr Arndt Kirchhoff, underligned the quality and problem solving capacity of the workforce. "The collaborative approach between Kirchhoff Ireland, the Government, IDA and SIPTU has been a significant factor in the company's success to date."
