Written By Jennifer Noel
Many businesses in Carroll County connect with other corporations outside the area, but few have international ties while still keeping their roots firmly planted in the Westminster community. Knorr Brake Corporation (the K is not silent) is one of those: A global company with a strong presence here.
KBC is one of several companies within the Knorr-Bremse Group, a century-old firm that has its headquarters in Munich, Germany. With business relationships in over 60 countries, the group is a world leader in the manufacture of mass transit braking systems. Knorr moved its U.S. operation in 1991 from Rockville, where it had been expanding since 1972, to Westminster, where it found more space.
Located on Route 140, KBC specializes in braking systems for transit railway cars as well as systems engineering. Housed in the Westminster location is also Innovations for Entrance Systems North America (IFE) which KBC acquired in 2002. IFE makes automatic door systems for mass transit cars. In 2005, KBC acquired the U.S. branch of a Spanish firm, Merak North America, specialists in heating, ventilation and air conditioning, which moved its headquarters from Albany, N.Y. to the Westminster location in the fall of 2008.
“We are unique in that we have only one major competitor. This is really a niche market,” said Vice President of Operations Mike Kmon. “We deliver a brake system, not a brake component.”
KBC sells brake systems to transit authorities such as Baltimore MTA, Amtrak, and WMATA. Their excellence in manufacturing has been recognized by the International Railway Industry Standard (IRIS). KBC was the first to receive IRIS certification in North America.
“IRIS certification is a real feather in our cap,” said Gary St. Onge, KBC’s director of quality. “This shows our commitment to producing quality systems and we gain more business because of it.”
Although it is a world leader in the manufacture of braking systems, KBC hires much of its workforce from the local area. Out of the 220 employees at the Westminster location, nearly 100 call Carroll County home.
Lisa Ditillo, director of human resources, attributes the low attrition rate at KBC to the close-knit community and work ethic that has developed over the years.
“We have a great group of people here,” she said. “We have a stable business with a less than 2 percent employee turnover; that’s unheard of in manufacturing. We want our employees not only to enjoy their work, but also who they are working with.”
Maintenance, Service and Repair Manager Terry Welsh also notes the importance of a well-rounded group of workers. “We don’t mass produce any one product; we are more like a job shop. We manage 35,000 part numbers, a job that requires our employees to be versatile and knowledgeable in several areas of production.”
KBC employees’ work ethic does not end when the work day closes. They are at the heart of the firm’s efforts to build a better community in Carroll County. KBC encourages and aids employees’ participation in community-based programs such as Neighbors in Need and the United Way. As a corporation, KBC each year donates more than $35,000 to charities.
Given the current state of the economy, many companies have cut back on charitable donations. But KBC does not believe that eliminating donations is the solution to a downturn.
“The local community is important. Because the economy is doing poorly does not mean people aren’t in need. As a business we are doing well and will continue to help out,” said Ditillo.
In addition to its philanthropic contributions, KBC offers continuing education for employees and promotes efforts to further education for students in the Carroll County Public School System. KBC gives guided tours of the facilities to students, many of whom are in technical programs. And some students even gain internships with the company.
KBC also recognizes the importance of being environmentally aware. The corporation is ISO: 14001 certified: an international standard for environmental management.
“Our President, Richard Bowie, wants us to leave a footprint behind, but not a mess,” said Quality Director St. Onge. “We work hard to clean up the environment.”
