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Member blog: introduction to MAHLE Engine Systems

MAHLE Engine Systems occupies a site in the southside of Kilmarnock which covers an area slightly over 71,000m², with 32,000m² allocated to workshop space and 5,000m² administration area.

The business started in Kilmarnock in 1947, as part of the Glacier Metal Company and was a large UK manufacturer which developed Anti-Friction Metals & Plain Bearings, particularly for the motor industry but also other engineering applications.

The site has gone through many changes over the years and today, it has 2 main Business Units:

The Materials Business Unit is responsible for manufacturing Bi-metallic Strip (Aluminium Tin & Sintered Bronze) used to manufacture Plain Bearings, Bushes & Thrust Washers in various MAHLE Sites across the Globe. The manufacturing process involves Casting Aluminium Alloys, Sintering Bronze to Steel, Bonding Alloy to Steel and various other operations, which utilise Gas & Induction Furnaces as well as Rolling Mills and Annealing Processes.

The Racing Business Unit is responsible for manufacturing high-end Plain Bearings which are supplied to all the top-level Racing Series worldwide. E.g. Formula 1, Le Mans, Nascar, MotoGP, WRC, DTM. As well as this, the Race Unit can offer solutions for customers who are looking to source parts for Classic Cars & Historic Racing or planning a ‘Restomod’ on a classic vehicle. The manufacturing processes involve bespoke equipment, designed specifically for bearing manufacture as well as a variety of Mechanical Presses and CNC Machines which can be adapted for other products.

MAHLE have ambitions to diversify into the renewable energy sector, with particular interest in offering Corrosion Protection Systems Sub-components, such as the Galvanic Anode Cathodic Protection (GACP). 

See the following links for the Kilmarnock Race Unit website and the MAHLE Corporate website.