Germany-based manufacturer Draexlmaier Automotive of America is one of the most respected Tier 1 suppliers in the Automotive Industry, supplying fine leather interior parts and wiring harnesses to OEMs worldwide. Draexlmaier’s North American Headquarters facility in Duncan, South Carolina is a key supplier to the BMW Assembly Plant in nearby Spartanburg. As a BMW supplier, Draexlmaier must operate efficiently and with a great deal of flexibility.
Without a clearly defined growth strategy, Draexlmaier would be unable to meet the demanding requirements of BMW’s Just-In-Time manufacturing process. To ensure their agility and to maintain a successful partnership with BMW, Draexlmaier hired David W. Lewis, AIA Architect to assist them in defining their long range growth strategy for the North American market.
The first phase of the project was to master plan for an $8 Million building expansion program. The project consisted of a long-range, phased growth master plan for a 40,000 square foot highbay, narrow-aisles Warehouse and a new 42,000 square foot Research and Development Center, administrative office expansion and leather production facility expansion. In addition, the master plan also had to accommodate a future manufacturing expansion in excess of 250,000 square feet.
Context Design Group is currently involved in developing a continuously evolving property wide site master plan (including Landscape Design services) to reflect recent improvements and follow planned growth for the facility.