What KH does

KH VIVES, S.L. (operating as Grupo KH) is a Spain-based Tier 1/2 automotive components and industrial services manufacturer headquartered in Almusafes, Valencia. Founded in 1998, KH operates six diversified business units: metal structures for seats and rods (Estructuras metálicas), technical foam transformation and die-cutting (Espumas técnicas), voice-directed module assembly and sequencing (Montaje de módulos y secuenciación), applied engineering (Soluciones de ingeniería aplicada), logistics services (Servicios logísticos), and international automotive component sourcing (Componentes de automoción). The company supplies directly and indirectly to Ford, Renault, Opel, and the VW Group, with KH's patented seat metal structures installed in all Ford vehicles manufactured in Europe under Ford Q1 supplier certification awarded in 2016.

KH's core technology stack centers on the patented H-shaped rod (2010) that eliminates welding and delivers a 50% production cost reduction; the proprietary P2V production-to-vehicle sequencing system coordinating more than 500 component references and dispatching 20,000+ components daily with real-time traceability; voice recognition systems for assembly line sequencing; ferromagnetic paint application enabling 3D piece production from 2D die-cutting technology; and sub-0.5 MM pin assembly tolerance systems. Quality management is anchored by ISO 9001, IATF 16949, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001 certifications. Production scale reaches 12M+ rods annually, 50M+ foam pieces annually, and 1,000+ technical references, supported by 350+ employees and approximately €20M in disclosed annual revenue.

KH's business model is B2B direct supply to enterprise OEMs with negotiated, non-publicly-disclosed pricing per specification. Revenue is generated from hardware sales (component manufacturing — metal structures, foams, sequenced modules) and professional services (sequencing, logistics, applied engineering). The company exports 20% of production, serves customers through resident engineers at OEM facilities plus dedicated engineering and business development teams, and positions itself as a problem solver focused on quality, safety, and process innovation rather than on commodity supply. A consistent stream of regional subsidies (IVACE, CDTI, PERTE) from 2016 to 2025 has co-funded lean manufacturing, digital transformation, EV-related projects, and capacity expansion, indicating grant-subsidized rather than equity-funded growth.

Name

KH

Legal name

KH VIVES, S.L.

Website

https://grupokh.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

KH VIVES, S.L. (Grupo KH) is a Spain-based Tier 1/2 automotive components manufacturer serving Ford, Renault, Opel, and the VW Group with metal structures, technical foams, sequenced module assembly, applied engineering, logistics, and international component sourcing across six business units.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Almusafes

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Automotive Components Manufacturing: KH designs, develops, and produces automotive components including metal structures for seats (12+ million rods annually), technical foams (50+ million pieces), and other automotive parts. The company operates as a Tier 1 supplier to major OEMs.
2. Industrial Services: KH provides industrial services including module assembly, sequencing, logistics services, applied engineering solutions, and international technical solutions search for automotive applications.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

KH designs, develops, and produces automotive components and industrial services through six business units: metal structures for vehicle seats (12M+ rods/year including patented H-shaped rod), technical foam transformation and die-cutting (50M+ pieces/year), voice-directed module assembly and sequencing (20,000+ components/day), applied engineering solutions with on-site resident engineers, outsourced logistics services, and international automotive components sourcing/homologation. The company operates as a Tier 1/Tier 2 supplier to Ford, Renault, Opel, and VW Group, holding Ford Q1 certification and IATF 16949/ISO certifications.

Product overview

KH is a diversified automotive components and industrial services company organized into six distinct Business Units, functioning as an integrated portfolio rather than a single unified platform. The six units are: (1) Estructuras metálicas — metal structure manufacturing for seats including a patented H-shaped rod eliminating welding, producing 12M+ rods/year for Ford Europe; (2) Espumas técnicas — technical foam die-cutting and transformation of 50M+ pieces/year across 1,000+ references for insulation and reinforcement; (3) Montaje de módulos y secuenciación — voice-directed module assembly and sequencing delivering 20,000+ components/day via a proprietary P2V system with real-time traceability; (4) Soluciones de ingeniería aplicada — on-site reengineering and proprietary digital applications for workforce coordination and process standardization; (5) Servicios logísticos — outsourced logistics including storage, customs, Kanban sequencing, and transport; and (6) Componentes de automoción — international technical sourcing and homologation services for automotive applications. These units collectively serve OEM manufacturers (Ford, Renault, Opel, VW Group) with combined revenue of €20M and a workforce of 350+ employees.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Estructuras metálicas (Metal Structures for Automotive Seats) Metal structure manufacturing for vehicle seats, including the patented H-shaped rod that eliminates welding processes and reduces production costs by 50%. KH bends and welds over 12 million rods per year and produces clips, springs, hooks, and retainers. KH structures are installed in all Ford vehicles manufactured in Europe.
• Espumas técnicas (Technical Foams) Technical foam transformation and die-cutting operations producing over 50 million pieces annually across 1,000+ technical references. Materials include cellular rubber, polyester/PET foam (PUR/POLY), PPI, EPP, polypropylene, cotton, felts, carpets, and fabrics. Applications include thermal and acoustic insulation, reinforcement, and trim components for vehicles.
• Montaje de módulos y secuenciación (Module Assembly and Sequencing) Module assembly and voice-directed sequencing services synchronizing with vehicle manufacturing lines. The proprietary P2V system manages over 500 component references and supplies more than 20,000 components daily (glass, steering wheels, dashboards, electronic modules) in sequenced order with real-time traceability. Operational processes are grounded in Link Manufacturing philosophy.
• Soluciones de ingeniería aplicada (Applied Engineering Solutions) Applied engineering services including simultaneous reengineering processes to resolve design and quality problems in vehicle production. KH develops proprietary technologies (mobile and desktop applications) to coordinate hundreds of employees, standardize operations, and provide real-time results. Resident engineers are deployed on-site at customer facilities for rework and component safety management.
• Servicios logísticos (Logistics Services) Outsourced logistics services including storage, stock control, and distribution; customs warehousing and customs clearance; sequencing, ECI, Kanban, and supply line management; and home delivery transport from supplier to customer facilities.
• Componentes de automoción (International Automotive Components Sourcing) International technical solutions sourcing service for automotive applications, launched in 2012. Services include needs analysis, market prospecting, purchasing management, project development, homologation, and supply throughout the product lifecycle, identifying and supplying international products to meet customer technical requirements.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50% reduction in production costs through patented H-shaped rod technology
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature6 records

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Lear Corporation: Global Tier 1 seating and electrical systems supplier. Broad incumbent in seat structures and trim, comparable end customers (Ford, VW Group, Renault) and overlapping value chain with KH's metal and foam units.
• Adient: Global pure-play automotive seating supplier. Broad incumbent directly competing with KH's metal seat structure business and representing the strategic ceiling on what KH can scale into in seating.
• Benteler International: European-headquartered global automotive supplier of metal components, chassis, and modules. Broad incumbent with comparable engineering, metal forming, and module assembly capabilities serving the same European OEM customer base.
• Magna International: Global automotive supplier with strong European presence across seating, exteriors, body & chassis, and complete vehicle engineering. Broad incumbent representing the global scale benchmark against which mid-size players like KH are typically benchmarked by OEMs.
• Faurecia (FORVIA): Global Tier 1 leader in automotive seating, interiors, and clean mobility. Broad incumbent competing with KH for seat structure, foam, and module assembly business at all major European OEMs at much larger scale.

Direct peers

• CIE Automotive: Spanish-listed global supplier of automotive components across metal stamping, plastics, and complete subassemblies. Closely comparable to KH's diversified Tier 1/2 manufacturing model and shared Iberian footprint serving European OEMs.
• Gestamp: Spanish global leader in metal automotive components (chassis, body-in-white, mechanisms). Direct peer to KH's metal structures business unit, particularly in rod, stamping, and seat structural components supplied into European OEMs.
• Grupo Antolin: Spanish-headquartered Tier 1 supplier of automotive interior components (overhead systems, door panels, lighting, seats). Direct competitor to KH in interior trim, technical foams, and seat-related modules supplied into European OEMs including Ford, Renault, Stellantis, and VW Group.
• Grupo Segura: Spanish Tier 1 automotive supplier of safety and restraint systems (seat belts, airbags, steering wheels). Directly comparable to KH in seat-adjacent metal structures and as a fellow mid-size Iberian Tier 1 serving Ford, Renault, Opel, and VW.

Regional players

• FICOSA: Spanish Tier 1 supplier of automotive electronics, mirrors, and advanced systems. Regional peer in the Spanish Tier 1 ecosystem supplying European OEMs with similar Tier 1 integration capabilities and quality certifications (IATF 16949).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCaUZP2VRKE4G-IKJNTdx14Q
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/grupo-kh
• Xx.com/grupokh
• Facebookfacebook.com/grupoKHVives

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about KH