Donnelly Moves to Establish Global Manufacturing Capabilities For Auto-Dimming Electrochromic Mirrors
24 September 1997
Donnelly Moves to Establish Global Manufacturing Capabilities For Auto-Dimming Electrochromic Mirrors
HOLLAND, Mich., Sept. 24 -- Donnelly Corporation
today moved to strengthen its global market position in automotive
electrochromic mirrors with the announcement that the company will establish
manufacturing operations for electrochromic mirrors in Asia by mid-1998.
Donnelly currently produces electrochromic mirrors in Naas, Ireland for 12
auto manufacturers in Europe, North America and Asia. The company also has
production capabilities in a North American assembly plant. By mid-1998 the
company will have production of electrochromic mirrors underway at operations
in Penang, Malaysia as well. When the Malaysian operation goes on line,
Donnelly will be the only automotive mirror supplier in the world with
electrochromic minor manufacturing in each of the world's largest automotive
markets.
For the Malaysian operations, Donnelly has signed an agreement with a new
partner, Varitronix International Ltd. Varitronix is based in Hong Kong, and
is a global leader in the market for liquid crystal displays (LCDs) and
electronic systems. Through its Malaysian subsidiary, Varitronix will acquire
a 50 percent share in one of Donnelly's existing subsidiaries.
The 50-50 joint venture will be called Varitronix EC Mirrors Limited, and
from its Malaysian base the company will serve Asian customers and provide
strategic support for Donnelly's growing worldwide electrochromic mirror
sales.
By being first to market with Asian manufacturing capabilities, Varitronix
EC Mirrors Limited will be in a strong position to offer customers leading
electrochromic technologies at highly affordable prices. Over time, that
dynamic will help extend the safety and comfort of electrochromic mirrors to a
broader range of vehicle lines.
"We are very pleased that Varitronix is joining Donnelly as a partner in
bringing affordable, technologically advanced electrochromic products to the
marketplace," said Dwane Baumgardner, Donnelly chairman and chief executive
officer. "Varitronix is an outstanding company with a long history of
innovation and success, and we believe that our strategy of globally
distributed electrochromic mirror production will create a huge competitive
advantage over the long term."
C. C. Chang is the chairman of Varitronix International Ltd. "The
strategic alliance with Donnelly in this joint venture on electrochromic
mirror products represents an opportunity for both partners in the venture and
paves the way for further development of this technology for display
applications," Chang said. "Donnelly is a worldwide leader in the automotive
mirror market and they are a long-term, valued Varitronix supplier. Indeed,
we are all looking forward to this closer cooperation between the two
companies."
With the addition of the Varitronix electrochromic assembly capabilities,
the company strengthened its lead as the only "one-stop shop" for automotive
vision products.
Donnelly Corporation is an international automotive supplier, dedicated to
serving customers around the globe with high-quality fabricated, molded and
coated glass products. The company has been based in Holland, Michigan since
1905, and today operates from 28 locations in the U.S., Mexico, Europe and
Asia. Donnelly is also recognized as a leader in the application of
participative management, and was named as one of the "Top Ten" in the book,
"The 100 Best Companies To Work For In America."
SOURCE Donnelly Corporation