(Seguin) – It’s the golden anniversary of one of the oldest and longest-running manufacturing operations in Seguin and Guadalupe County.

Vitesco Technologies, Seguin’s largest global manufacturing plant, is rolling out the red carpet this week, celebrating its 50-year milestone. Local, state and company leaders from around the world gathered Thursday at the plant to not only celebrate the company’s years of being a leader in cutting-edge technology but to celebrate all of the employees who have contributed their talents and skills along the way.

The Seguin facility first opened in 1972 as Motorola. Years later, the operation was acquired by Continental Automotive, and now for the last several years has been under the worldwide helm of Vitesco Technologies based in Regensburg, Germany.

The Seguin plant has a storied history of producing electronic controls — marking the modernization of innovative machines from refrigerators and microwaves to the first Bluetooth and even hand-held GPS (global positioning systems).

Dr. Hans-Juergen Braun is the chief operating officer for Vitesco Technologies. Dr. Braun, who made the special trip to Seguin for its golden anniversary, says of the 24 plants worldwide, Seguin is one of the leading game-changers for the company.

“It’s experience. We are developing new technologies — looking now on Seguin. I mean we have people staying long in this company, having developed for more than 30 years the same product and with the same technology and even bringing new innovation. So for us, (continuing) is important to manage our new challenges with all the changes which are in front of us,” said Dr. Braun. 

Plant Manager Rich Anderson says the Seguin facility continues to exceed expectations with some of the most complex electronics in the industry.

“This factory is making high-tech electronics and is a premier supplier for automotive electronics and has been for 40 plus us years. Obviously, the factory started off making electronics for appliances like refrigerators and microwaves but when you look back at the last 50 years, always 1,000 to 1,500 jobs in the local area. Currently, we are at 1,700 employees and these jobs are safe. They are clean. The products that we are producing are reducing emissions for our environment, making our planet cleaner. When you look at the people, we are very innovative. We are driving change. When you look at us to many of our competitors, what we do in our factory is cutting edge and leading change in the industry,” said Anderson.

  Anderson says over the years, its ability to stay on top of the ever-changing world of technology has helped it to maintain its position in the automotive industry.

“We are making everything from emission sensors for diesel engines that controls the emissions coming out of vehicles to temperature sensors that monitor the temperature of engines. We are making sensors for transmission shift points. We are also making engine controllers and engine controllers are basically the brain of the car. It’s a computer that controls the engine – the most complicated device in the vehicle is being made right here in Seguin, Texas and has been for almost 40 years as we have been producing engine controllers. That’s our primary product that we produce and again, it’s the most complicated device in the vehicle,” said Anderson.

Today, Anderson says the focus remains on advanced battery-electric vehicles, which are poised to reshape the automotive industry during the next decade. However, he says what they are doing today is not what they will be doing tomorrow and is already looking ahead into the next 50 years. 

“We’ve already won an amazing amount of business here in the last six months for electrification. So, we’ve got products that don’t control internal combustion engines anymore. We are making products to control battery management systems – so batteries and hybrid vehicles. So, we are electrifying as we speak and it’s amazing how much bigger we are going to be in the next two or three years and even bigger in 50 years,” said Anderson.

Among the leaders on hand to help celebrate Vitesco Technologies was Seguin Mayor Donna Dodgen. Dodgen says the portfolio of the local plant is strong and deeply rooted in this community.

“It started out and it’s moved to different companies, but it stayed here, and it’s been consistent. It’s probably the oldest next to CMC. It’s very important. They do a lot for the community. They employ many people and they’ve be integral in putting Seguin on the map and I don’t think many of us in town are aware of that – that what they do and what everything they do inside touches and how they have been the first at many things. It’s just a major part of our community and it should be celebrated,” said Dodgen.

With shifts running around the clock, the Seguin facility expects continued growth as Vitesco Technologies continues to win new electrification business from U.S. automakers. Additionally, a large capital project, a new warehouse, is also nearing completion to support its growing operations.

In celebration of its 50th anniversary, the plant will welcome its families this Saturday to an open house, treating them to a carnival, food, and drinks. The company will also be planting a time capsule with the hope of opening it and refilling it every 10 years. Vitesco is located at 3740 N. Austin St.

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