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Exel Composites (Vantaa, Finland), a company providing pultruded and pull-wound composite solutions, has achieved IATF 16949 certification for its Joensuu factory in Finland, which guarantees consistent excellence in the production of automotive parts. This globally recognized standard is critical for the automotive industry, emphasizing high-quality manufacturing, defect prevention and the reduction of variation and waste in the supply chain.

IATF 16949 is the automotive industry’s quality standard based on ISO 9001, with stricter requirements for supplier management, process traceability and continuous improvement initiatives. Certification requires annual surveillance audits and full recertification every 3 years. This certification, a necessity for Tier 1 suppliers and OEMs, complements Exel’s existing achievements, which include ISO 14001, ISO 45001 and ISO 9001.

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According to Exel, achieving this certification was the result of a rigorous 2-year process. To comply with the IATF’s requirements, Exel Composites made numerous enhancements to its production workflow. These include traceability for raw materials, raw material approval processes, stricter inspections at every production stage and risk-based decision making.

Each step — from pultrusion to post-processing — is inspected, supported by comprehensive laboratory testing to ensure quality control. This process includes measuring the dimensions and evaluating the strength properties of the produced parts. In the automotive industry, where zero-defect tolerance is the standard, IATF 16949 is a crucial badge of reliability.

Joensuu, Exel’s largest R&D hub, played a pivotal role in achieving this milestone. With a team of experts, the facility is positioned for product trials and scaling up production. Most of Exel’s new products are developed here, making it the natural choice for IATF 16949 certification.  

“This certification strengthens our position in the automotive sector and sets a new benchmark for what we can achieve,” explains Juha Lipponen, quality environment health and safety manager at Exel Composites. “By meeting the stringent demands of IATF 16949, we’re showing our commitment to delivering defect-free, high-performance components that meet the evolving needs of our customers.

“We’d like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone involved in this demanding process,” he continues. “Their hard work, expertise and commitment were essential in securing this certification, and it would not have been possible without them.”

With this certification, Exel is continuing to advance projects in the transportation sector — a key focus area in its growth strategy, particularly as adoption of composite materials in the vehicle sector quickens. “We want to be in the best position to provide our customers with the highest quality and reliability,” says Francesco Ierullo, VP sales and marketing for engineered solutions.

Looking ahead, Exel is committed to expanding the IATF 16949 certification to other facilities globally.