Toyoda Gosei's Fuel Systems Manufacturing Gets a New Home

BRIGHTON, Mich., April 29 -- While other companies may be moving their manufacturing out of Michigan, TG Fluid Systems USA Corporation (TGFSUS), the North American fuel systems manufacturer for Toyoda Gosei, announced today that it will be staying in Brighton and moving its manufacturing operations into a larger facility to accommodate its growing business. Company operations at the Brighton location have been housed in their current building since 1996.

"Due to the tremendous growth in our business we must relocate," stated Scott Maly, President, TG Fluid Systems USA. "Our business has doubled every year for the last three years, which can be directly attributed to the tremendous capabilities of our people. Not only do we bring the knowledge of the Toyota Production System into our manufacturing, we also have world-class expertise in the technical areas of design and testing right here in Michigan."

In February of 2000, Toyoda Gosei purchased ongoing fluid system operations in two locations from Eagle Picher; one in the United Kingdom (TGFSUK) and the other in Brighton, Michigan (TGFSUS). At that time, the TGFSUS location employed about 70 people. Current employment numbers have more than tripled to around 250 and are projected to increase to around 300 employees by the end of 2004. Operations are run over 4 shifts.

The new building is around 70,000 sq. ft., which almost doubles current manufacturing space. Closing took place on Wednesday, April 28, 2004. Preparations for moving in should take roughly 45 - 60 days and began immediately after closing. The move is being implemented as a running change with processes scheduled for relocation over a staggered period of time.

TG Fluid Systems USA Corporation conducts testing, design and manufacturing of fuel system products, operating as both a Tier One and Tier Two supplier to the automotive industry.

Toyoda Gosei, with headquarters in Aichi, Japan; Troy, Michigan, U.S.A.; Zaventem, Belgium and Chonburi, Thailand, is a world-class supplier to the automotive industry. Toyoda Gosei's five product categories include: Body Sealing Systems, Interior / Exterior Systems, Optoelectronics, Fuel System / Functional Parts and Safety Systems. The TG Group employs over thirteen thousand people in thirteen countries, located in forty-eight manufacturing, technical and sales facilities worldwide.