INDUSTRY NEWS
Bodine Aluminum Increasing Capacity for Toyota Program Bodine Aluminum Inc., Troy, Mo.,
will spend $10 million to boost annual production capacity in response to a new program announced by Toyota Motor Corp. Bodine will produce 120,000 more
transmission cases and housings for six-speed automatic transmissions than originally budgeted. Te program will create 25 new jobs at Bodine. Toyota said its engine and trans-
mission manufacturing subsidiary Toyota Motor Manufacturing West Virginia Inc. will further increase its six-speed automatic transmission annual production capacity beyond the previously planned 400,000 units, announced in February 2011 and targeted for the end of 2012, to 520,000 units by the summer of 2013. The capacity increase represents an additional investment of approximately
Bodine Aluminum produces castings for a number of Toyota models. The new transmission program will be focused on models like the Avalon.
$45 million and 80 new jobs. Te West Virginia facility currently builds six-speed automatic transmis-
JTEKT Automotive to Spend $50 Million on Expansion, Product Launch
JTEKT North America Inc.,
Plymouth, Mich., announced it plans to expand its Morristown, Tenn., diecasting operations and launch a new pump product technol- ogy by mid-2013. Te company said in a press release
the combined expansion and new product launch will cost $50 million and create approximately 125 new jobs over the next two years. “These projects support a strong
strategy with our customers to localize the manufacturing of steer- ing and driveline products to avoid unfavorable foreign exchange rates and increasing global logistic costs,” said Mike Davidson, president of JTEKT Automotive Tennessee- Morristown Inc. Te diecasting facility expansion
to supply aluminum components for steering and driveline systems will be completed by the end of this year. Te new pump technology product launch is planned for May 2013 and will in-
8 | MODERN CASTING April 2012
clude diecasting, machining, assembly and test operations. The steering systems supplier
said continued recovery by the auto- motive market, new business awards and increased product diversification have increased the demand for its products. “Tis announcement is a vote of
confidence from JTEKT Corp. in the abilities of our team members, this operation and the community from which we draw our resources,” Davidson said. JTEKT Automotive Tennessee-
Morristown Inc. currently employs 670 and produces power steering pumps, automatic transmission pumps and die castings for steering and driveline applications. JTEKT Corporation is headquartered in Japan with $12 billion in global sales. Te corporation has more than 4,500 employees in North America at 13 manufacturing plants, plus technical and sales centers.
sions for Toyota’s Avalon, Camry, Sienna and Venza and Lexus’ RX 350 vehicles built in North America.
Japan-Based Nidec Buys Minster
Te Minster Machine Co., Minster,
Ohio, which maintains in-house casting capability, announced it is being bought by Nidec-Shimpo, Kyoto, Japan. Te acquisition is expected to close in
early April. Terms were not disclosed. “We feel the acquisition by Nidec
will give Minster a larger competi- tive global footprint in the machinery, automation and services marketplace, while maintaining local production and management,” said John Winch, Minster’s president and CEO. According to a Minster press release,
operations are expected to continue as usual at the company’s manufacturing sites in Minster, Ohio. Te company ex- pects its management team and current owners to remain with the organization. According to the company’s website,
the current Minster casting facility, designed to produce short-run nobake castings, was placed in operation in 1973. Nidec-Shimpo is a division of Ni- dec Corp., a technology company with annual gross sales of $9 billion.
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