INDUSTRY news
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 technology by mid-2013. T e company said the combined
expansion and product launch will cost $50 million and create approximately 125 new jobs over the next two years. “T ese projects support a strong
strategy with our customers to localize the manufacturing of steering and driveline products to avoid unfavorable
foreign exchange rates and increasing global logistic costs,” said Mike Davidson, president of JTEKT Automotive Tennessee-Morristown Inc. T e diecasting facility expansion is expected to be completed by the end of this year. T e new pump technology product launch is planned for May 2013 and will include diecasting, machining, assembly and test operations. JTEKT said continued recovery by the automotive market, new business
ME Elecmetal to Build Steel Casting Facility in China
ME Elecmetal, Minneapolis, announced a $45-million project to construct a specialty steel casting facility in China. T e company, part of the Chile- based Claro Group, expects the new plant to have 30,000 metric tons of mill liner production capacity. T e metalcasting facility will be located in Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, China. According to a statement by ME Elecmetal, project engineering is in the fi nal stage of development and construction is slated to begin in the third quarter of 2012. T e company anticipates the facility to start up in the fourth quarter of 2013. T e plant’s output will support hard rock mining and milling operations, primarily for large-scale operations in the Asia Pacifi c region, which are experiencing increasing demand. “T e Changzhou facility will
allow us to more quickly respond to our existing and potential customer base in the Asia Pacifi c region,” said President Andy Fulton. “T e liner facility, coupled with our joint venture ball plant [established in 2011], off ers a strong manufacturing platform.” ME Elecmetal produces impact
and abrasion resistant castings for crushing and milling applications. With its parent company, Elecmetal SA, the company operates metalcasting facilities in Duluth, Minn., and Tempe, Ariz., with a licensee in Mexico. Elecmetal SA operates similar plants in Santiago and Rancagua, Chile.
May/Jun 2012 | METAL CASTING DESIGN & PURCHASING | 11
In 2011, ME Elecmetal announced a $23.4 million investment in its Duluth and Tempe, Ariz., metalcasting facilities. In January 2012, it spent $12.2 million more on the Duluth plant, citing rising
demand from the mining industry. T e company currently serves
customers in 30 countries and has 1,000 employees, primarily in Chile and the U.S., as well as in China, Brazil and Canada.
and increased product diversifi cation have increased demand for its products. 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 Corp. is headquartered in Japan with $12 billion in global sales. T e corporation has more than 4,500 employees in North America at 13 manufacturing plants, plus technical and sales centers.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60