Fall 2009
ALABAMA
Kamtek Lands Volkswagen Parts Contract
Kamtek, an Alabama parts supplier to Mercedes-Benz, Nissan and Freightliner, landed a contract in late November to produce parts for the new Volkswagen plant being built in Chattanooga. The value of the contract and the work is not known as of this writing. Kamtek, which stamps parts such as fenders at its Birmingham, Ala. plant, is undergoing a $310 expansion. The plant has about 300 workers, but plans are to add as many as 300 more during the expansion.
New Automotive Supplier Bringing 195 Jobs to Alabama
Faurecia North America, a subsidiary of France-based Faurecia and one of the world's largest automotive parts suppliers, announced in late November it plans to build a $15 million plant in Tuscaloosa County, Ala. The deal represents 195 new jobs. The company will be a just-in-time supplier of parts to the Mercedes-Benz plant in Vance, Ala. Faurecia's major automotive products are exhaust systems, front ends, seats and interiors.
New Parts Supplier Picks Anniston, Ala.
Ohio-based Industry Products, Co., is setting up shop in Anniston, Ala. to supply the Honda plant in nearby Lincoln. The company's key product lines include watershields, trunk and cargo area systems and noise and vibration components. About 25 jobs will be created initially with the project.
Michelin Development Opens Alabama Office
Michelin Development recently opened an office in Opelika, Ala. to begin taking applications for $2 million in low-interest loans to qualified start-up and small businesses in East Alabama. The program, the second of its kind in North America, aims at stimulating economic growth and creating jobs in the area to offset over 1,000 jobs eliminated by the company when it announced it was closing the BF Goodrich tire plant in Opelika. BF Goodrich is owned by Michelin. The first Michelin Development office opened in Canada and over 800 jobs have been created by the program there.
Company Adding Jobs to Supply VW, BMW
Brose Tuscaloosa announced in September it plans to invest $4.1 million and create 30 new jobs at its Tuscaloosa, Ala. plant to accommodate future production of engine cooling fans for BMW in Greer, S.C. and seat components for the new VW plant in Chattanooga. Brose is adding 39,000 square feet of manufacturing space at its facility in Alabama. Brose also produces door systems for Mercedes-Benz at its plant in Vance, Ala.
Parts Supplier Grows in South Alabama
Alto Products, an Atmore, Ala.-based manufacturer of automotive clutch plates and automatic transmission parts, announced in October it is undergoing a $3 million expansion that will create at least 10 new jobs. The company will also add 40,000 square feet to its Atmore facility.
ARKANSAS
Cooper Tire Expands in Texarkana
Ohio-based Cooper Tire & Rubber announced in the fall quarter it will add 200 jobs at its Texarkana, Ark. operation and start running the plant around the clock, seven days a week. In September, Cooper announced a $6 million expansion of its Tupelo, Miss. plant.
Great Dane Trailers Temporarily Shutting Down Arkansas Factory
Layoffs began October 15 at Great Dane Trailers' Jonesboro, Ark. plant, one of seven the company operates. The company cited a "significant, continued downturn in trailer orders" as the reason to temporarily close the facility. Last year about 150 workers were housed at the plant.
KENTUCKY
Hitachi Automotive Expanding in Kentucky
In the fall quarter, Hitachi Automotive Products USA announced it will expand its Harrodsburg, Ky. operation, adding a new fuel system production line to the plant. The expansion could also result in an additional product line for hybrid electric vehicles. Hitachi Automotive opened its Harrodsburg plant in 1986 and manufactures electromechanical automotive parts. The company's plant has grown from 40,000 to 400,000 square feet and this latest expansion will add 100 new workers to the payroll of 600.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Timken Announces New Distribution Center in South Carolina
Friction management and power transmission manufacturer Timken announced in the fall quarter it is investing $3 million and bringing 100 new jobs to Spartanburg County, S.C. The company is moving into a larger space in Duncan, S.C. and adding to the 50 employees it currently has in Spartanburg.
KEMET to Expand in South Carolina
KEMET Corp. announced in October it is expanding its facility in Greenville Co., S.C. to support manufacturing of capacitors for electric drive vehicles and alternative energy markets. The company is adding 113 new jobs at its Simpsonville facility in order to produce enough capacitors to make 100,000 electric drive vehicles.
Tire Company Building 1.1-Million-Square-Foot Distribution Center in S.C.
TBC Corp., one of the largest marketers of automotive replacement tires announced in October that it had chosen a site in Berkeley County, S.C. for a 1.1-million-square-foot distribution center. The company will build the center at the 400-acre Rockefeller Group Foreign Trade Zone/Charleston. Once built, the center will become the S.C. State Port Authority's fourth-largest business customer with tires being imported and exported both internationally and domestically.
Goodyear to Close South Carolina Plant
Goodyear officials announced in the fall quarter they plan to close the Spartanburg, S.C. plant by the end of the year. The plant houses about 90 workers and makes retread materials for commercial truck tires.
Dalkotech Announces New S.C. Facility
Canada-based Dalkotech, a maker of welded and machined parts such as hydraulic and fuel tanks, announced in late September it is locating a new facility in Newberry County, S.C. The deal is expected to create 50 new jobs.
TENNESSEE
Web Site Reports Bridgestone will Supply Tires for VW
In November, TicosLand.com, a Costa Rica-based Web site, reported that Bridgestone Costa Rica will produce 200,000 spare tires for the VW plant in Chattanooga and the company will produce the other tires for the car at its plant in Wilson, N.C.
Canadian Company Adding Workers in Rural Tennessee
Active Burgess, headquartered in Ontario, is expanding its precision moulds facility in Tullahoma, Tenn. The company produces plastic injection tooling projects for various uses in the automotive industry. The deal will result in 15 new jobs.
WEST VIRGINIA
Hino Supplier Opening Facility in W.Va.
Fontaine Modifications announced plans in October to open a truck modification center dedicated to supporting Hino Motor's truck assembly plant in Williamstown, W.Va. The company will move Hino support work currently performed in Ohio to the new facility in West Virginia. Based in North Carolina, Fontaine modifies medium and heavy-duty commercial trucks.
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Fall 2009
ALABAMA
Kamtek Lands Volkswagen Parts Contract
Kamtek, an Alabama parts supplier to Mercedes-Benz, Nissan and Freightliner, landed a contract in late November to produce parts for the new Volkswagen plant being built in Chattanooga. The value of the contract and the work is not known as of this writing. Kamtek, which stamps parts such as fenders at its Birmingham, Ala. plant, is undergoing a $310 expansion. The plant has about 300 workers, but plans are to add as many as 300 more during the expansion.
New Automotive Supplier Bringing 195 Jobs to Alabama
Faurecia North America, a subsidiary of France-based Faurecia and one of the world's largest automotive parts suppliers, announced in late November it plans to build a $15 million plant in Tuscaloosa County, Ala. The deal represents 195 new jobs. The company will be a just-in-time supplier of parts to the Mercedes-Benz plant in Vance, Ala. Faurecia's major automotive products are exhaust systems, front ends, seats and interiors.
New Parts Supplier Picks Anniston, Ala.
Ohio-based Industry Products, Co., is setting up shop in Anniston, Ala. to supply the Honda plant in nearby Lincoln. The company's key product lines include watershields, trunk and cargo area systems and noise and vibration components. About 25 jobs will be created initially with the project.
Michelin Development Opens Alabama Office
Michelin Development recently opened an office in Opelika, Ala. to begin taking applications for $2 million in low-interest loans to qualified start-up and small businesses in East Alabama. The program, the second of its kind in North America, aims at stimulating economic growth and creating jobs in the area to offset over 1,000 jobs eliminated by the company when it announced it was closing the BF Goodrich tire plant in Opelika. BF Goodrich is owned by Michelin. The first Michelin Development office opened in Canada and over 800 jobs have been created by the program there.
Company Adding Jobs to Supply VW, BMW
Brose Tuscaloosa announced in September it plans to invest $4.1 million and create 30 new jobs at its Tuscaloosa, Ala. plant to accommodate future production of engine cooling fans for BMW in Greer, S.C. and seat components for the new VW plant in Chattanooga. Brose is adding 39,000 square feet of manufacturing space at its facility in Alabama. Brose also produces door systems for Mercedes-Benz at its plant in Vance, Ala.
Parts Supplier Grows in South Alabama
Alto Products, an Atmore, Ala.-based manufacturer of automotive clutch plates and automatic transmission parts, announced in October it is undergoing a $3 million expansion that will create at least 10 new jobs. The company will also add 40,000 square feet to its Atmore facility.
ARKANSAS
Cooper Tire Expands in Texarkana
Ohio-based Cooper Tire & Rubber announced in the fall quarter it will add 200 jobs at its Texarkana, Ark. operation and start running the plant around the clock, seven days a week. In September, Cooper announced a $6 million expansion of its Tupelo, Miss. plant.
Great Dane Trailers Temporarily Shutting Down Arkansas Factory
Layoffs began October 15 at Great Dane Trailers' Jonesboro, Ark. plant, one of seven the company operates. The company cited a "significant, continued downturn in trailer orders" as the reason to temporarily close the facility. Last year about 150 workers were housed at the plant.
KENTUCKY
Hitachi Automotive Expanding in Kentucky
In the fall quarter, Hitachi Automotive Products USA announced it will expand its Harrodsburg, Ky. operation, adding a new fuel system production line to the plant. The expansion could also result in an additional product line for hybrid electric vehicles. Hitachi Automotive opened its Harrodsburg plant in 1986 and manufactures electromechanical automotive parts. The company's plant has grown from 40,000 to 400,000 square feet and this latest expansion will add 100 new workers to the payroll of 600.
SOUTH CAROLINA
Timken Announces New Distribution Center in South Carolina
Friction management and power transmission manufacturer Timken announced in the fall quarter it is investing $3 million and bringing 100 new jobs to Spartanburg County, S.C. The company is moving into a larger space in Duncan, S.C. and adding to the 50 employees it currently has in Spartanburg.
KEMET to Expand in South Carolina
KEMET Corp. announced in October it is expanding its facility in Greenville Co., S.C. to support manufacturing of capacitors for electric drive vehicles and alternative energy markets. The company is adding 113 new jobs at its Simpsonville facility in order to produce enough capacitors to make 100,000 electric drive vehicles.
Tire Company Building 1.1-Million-Square-Foot Distribution Center in S.C.
TBC Corp., one of the largest marketers of automotive replacement tires announced in October that it had chosen a site in Berkeley County, S.C. for a 1.1-million-square-foot distribution center. The company will build the center at the 400-acre Rockefeller Group Foreign Trade Zone/Charleston. Once built, the center will become the S.C. State Port Authority's fourth-largest business customer with tires being imported and exported both internationally and domestically.
Goodyear to Close South Carolina Plant
Goodyear officials announced in the fall quarter they plan to close the Spartanburg, S.C. plant by the end of the year. The plant houses about 90 workers and makes retread materials for commercial truck tires.
Dalkotech Announces New S.C. Facility
Canada-based Dalkotech, a maker of welded and machined parts such as hydraulic and fuel tanks, announced in late September it is locating a new facility in Newberry County, S.C. The deal is expected to create 50 new jobs.
TENNESSEE
Web Site Reports Bridgestone will Supply Tires for VW
In November, TicosLand.com, a Costa Rica-based Web site, reported that Bridgestone Costa Rica will produce 200,000 spare tires for the VW plant in Chattanooga and the company will produce the other tires for the car at its plant in Wilson, N.C.
Canadian Company Adding Workers in Rural Tennessee
Active Burgess, headquartered in Ontario, is expanding its precision moulds facility in Tullahoma, Tenn. The company produces plastic injection tooling projects for various uses in the automotive industry. The deal will result in 15 new jobs.
WEST VIRGINIA
Hino Supplier Opening Facility in W.Va.
Fontaine Modifications announced plans in October to open a truck modification center dedicated to supporting Hino Motor's truck assembly plant in Williamstown, W.Va. The company will move Hino support work currently performed in Ohio to the new facility in West Virginia. Based in North Carolina, Fontaine modifies medium and heavy-duty commercial trucks.
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