When Magna Mirrors moved its production lines from a cramped former warehouse in Greer to a new, purpose-built facility in Duncan this past January, General Manager Matthias Steck was already thinking ahead about expansion.
The 170,000-square-foot plant at 1150 S. Dantzler Road was built not only to meet current production needs but anticipated growth in demand for the company’s high-tech, electronics-packed automotive mirrors, Steck says, with 55,000 square feet already set aside for new production lines.
Besides making mirrors for luxury models made by BMW here in the Upstate and Mercedes-Benz models made in Alabama, the Duncan facility is gearing up to add new production capacity for Volvo starting next year.
The newest of six Magna facilities in the state and one of 343 plants worldwide, the Duncan plant reflects a set of priorities companies all over the globe are having to pay attention to:
- Efficient, sustainable operations
- Flexibility in dealing with supply chain problems
- Recruiting and retaining a talented workforce
Steck says the plant incorporates a range of amenities to improve the working lives of employees, from simple things like the cafeteria having enough microwaves so no one has to wait to heat their lunch to a walking trail and ample, conveniently close parking.
The plant also has enough space to house three times the inventory of component parts than would have been the case prior to the pandemic, according to Steck. Like many other companies grappling with supply chain challenges, Magna has shifted somewhat from the “just in time” model of lean manufacturing to the “just in case” precaution of keeping more parts on hand as insurance.
“I think we have everything here to be successful,” Steck says. “We’re proud of what we’ve done.”
With a comprehensive in-house training program and a healthy culture that strives to ensure the Duncan plant is a good place to work, Magna Mirrors is looking toward future growth, Steck says.
Already at 250 employees operating on two shifts five days a week, the facility produces an average of about 38,000 mirrors a week. The plant is also poised to bring seven new plastic-injection molding machines online by the end of the year.
“I’m looking forward to a very bright future for all of us,” Steck says.
For more information, visit magna.com.
Magna Mirrors fast facts
- Produces sensor-packed mirrors for luxury brands like BMW, Mercedes-Benz and, starting in 2023, Volvo
- The Duncan plant produces an average of 38,000 mirrors a week — more than 1 million annually
- The plant employs 250 people with plans to expand to 400 by 2028
