Specialized Processes Will Help Grow Mexican Industry

Q: How do added-value processes like HIPing grow the Mexican manufacturing sector?

A: High value parts require high-added value processes to be manufactured. This includes secondary processes such as HIPing, heat treat, plating, among others, as well as efficient manufacturing techniques. With this in mind, Chihuahua and Mexico´s aerospace industry has been evolving for some time, moving from simple assembly to very tight tolerance machining, manufacturing and secondary processes.

Naturally, having added value processes such as HIP allows international companies to transfer this high end parts and still be competitive by avoiding the time consuming and costly operations of shipping parts across borders just for an operation. Having certified suppliers promotes the near shoring of these high complexity parts which in turn help develop more complete and complex operations in Mexico. This eventually generates more opportunities and can detonate the growth of many industries.

The certification for HIPing and other secondary processes involves a long process. It requires certifications, NADCAP, AS9100, customer validation and sometimes even foreign government permits. Throughout the process, trust is crucial. If your customer does not fully trust in what you are doing, you will not go far. It requires a great deal of collaboration with the customer. However this is something that the local industry is able to do and has been happening for a while now.

Other companies in Chihuahua are running different specific processes, which end up adding a great deal of value to the industry, which in turn, helps to broaden the Mexican industrial environment. Among the main goals with these processes is to continue filling the gaps within the manufacturing supply chain and bring continuous growth to the industry.

Q: How does HT-MX leverage its strategic location in Chihuahua?

A: Chihuahua has a well-developed aerospace sector, with a good presence of OEMs and Tier 1s in the state. HT-MX has been operating for about 10 years, enabling us to make connections and stay involved with the cluster and chambers. Also, it is helpful to have open and constant discussions with other players, which often serve the same companies as we do. Finally, Chihuahua’s location gives us quick access to the Mexicali region, the US and the Bajio region.

Q: What processes does HT-MX offer to the Mexican industry?

A: HT-MX offers a wide variety of processes. Additional to our HIP service, our Heat Treat NADCAP scope includes most of the heat treatments for carbon seetls, stainless steels and aluminum, in addition to certain heat treatments for nickel-based alloys. We do a lot of aging and precipitation hardening, aluminum hardening, quenching and aging. Also, we do carbon steel and provide services for other industries. We used to do a great deal of work for the oil and gas industry and we also serve the medical devices and automotive sectors.