Advent of globalization and first foothold in the US market
Dr. Hans-Jochem Steim founds KERN-LIEBERS USA INC. in Toledo, Ohio, and inaugurates the manufacture of power springs for seat belts. The plant in the US grows rapidly. Today, products from all product groups manufactured by KERN-LIEBERS with the exception of textile products are produced at manufacturing facilities in Ohio, Michigan and Texas, and across the border in Mexico.
Start of construction of manufacturing facilities in Western Europe
The company starts construction of production facilities in Western Europe and establishes subsidiaries in the UK (1977) and Spain (1986). In Italy, the shares of Turin spring factory TECNOSET SRL are acquired in several stages beginning in 1987.
Management passed on to the next generation
In 1978, after 42 years at the helm of the company, Dr. Kurt Steim retires from the management board, but remains chairman of the company's administrative board until his death in 1983. Business graduate Robert Drosten is appointed chairman of the board and engineer Dr. Hans Jochem Steim becomes managing director.