President’s Message

On The Move
Our Next Steps To Success

We are living in the most transformative time in the history of the automotive and transportation industry. The realization of autonomous driving technology, electric and hybrid powertrains, connected cars and ride sharing are all drastically changing the landscape for our customers and the automotive supplier community. Everyone is having to rethink the fundamentals of their business and how they add value. We recognize this fact at Shape and have been making big moves to prepare for an exciting future. Part of that is improving the overall competitiveness and efficiency of our business.

In 2018, our global customers experienced many of these improvements first-hand, and continued to recognize Shape as a valuable partner.

Last year we were awarded more than $150 million in new business and took home several supplier performance awards. Each recognition is a direct reflection of the passion our team members show every day and their commitment to quality and customer service.

The year also produced global customer growth and we’re proud to be launching new business with BMW, Volkswagen, Skoda, Brose and Peugeot.

We strengthened our technology portfolio with the acquisition of Ohio-based aluminum extruder Magnode, and the sale of our stamping operation to longtime partner Ridgeview Industries.

In North America, we gained operational efficiency with plant consolidations and improved capital utilization. Our team continued their successful cooperation with Toyota and the BAMA organization to enhance lean manufacturing competencies. And we streamlined our organization so that valuable technical resources are aligned closer to manufacturing operations for improved performance.

Our 2018 investment in new projects, capital, and team member development came at a record pace for our company. We expanded manufacturing capacities in China, Thailand, Europe and in the southern USA within our Athens, Alabama plant. On top of that we’re preparing for the largest launch in Shape’s history this year, which will lead to the hiring of 150 new team members on our Grand Haven campus to support this milestone achievement.

Looking to the future, we have defined a clear vision and strategy for the company, which we call Vision 2025. Our strategy is that Shape will apply its unique, multi-material expertise, and be recognized as the world leader in crash management systems and lightweight vehicle body structures. As a global industry leader, we will continuously expand our technical capabilities by adding new processing and material technologies, and drive sustained improvements to our core business operations at a world-class standard.

This is all possible because of the company culture we have at Shape. The foundation of which has and always will be our people. That is why people and culture will remain an important focus for today and tomorrow as we build toward Vision 2025. I see our passionate team members as the bedrock to all of our past and future success. We will develop the next generation of leaders, push for individual and team development and recognize the Shape Family for their enduring commitment to team work, community and our customers.

It’s clear we’re entering a new era for Shape. One that I feel will be the most challenging and rewarding yet. We are well positioned, with a strong foundation and a highly motivated team, to support our customers and partners with great ideas that can be transformed into tangible solutions. I look forward to this next chapter, and want to thank our customers and team members for believing in Shape during this exciting journey.

Mark White
President