ASC Expands Technology and Manufacturing Capability, Venturing Its Columbus, Ohio, Plant with Yachiyo to Form: A Y Manufacturing, Ltd.
2 October 1997
ASC Expands Technology and Manufacturing Capability, Venturing Its Columbus, Ohio, Plant with Yachiyo to Form: A Y Manufacturing, Ltd.
SOUTHGATE, Mich., Oct. 2 -- ASC Incorporated has taken the
next step to expand its business in the global automotive marketplace by
announcing that it has formed a joint venture with its Columbus, Ohio
operation and Yachiyo Industry Co., Ltd. of Japan. This new company has been
named A Y Manufacturing, Ltd.
"This new venture is a natural evolution of our long-standing relationship
with Yachiyo," said Larry Doyle, President and CEO of ASC Incorporated.
"Together we have successfully launched seven OEM sunroof programs over the
last four years, with two more planned within the next twelve months,
accounting for over 300,000 sunroof systems per year."
Established in 1965, ASC Incorporated is the parent of American Sunroof
Company (an industry pioneer specializing in "open air" systems such as
sunroof and convertible systems); Automobile Specialty Company (specialty
vehicle manufacturing and conversions); and Aeromotive Services Company (metal
and composite fabrication, concept and prototype vehicle builds, design and
development).
Established in 1953, Yachiyo Industry Co., Ltd. is a leader in the design
and manufacture of sunroofs, fuel tanks, as well as sub-contract, lightweight
vehicle assembly. Yachiyo's in-house expertise with metal stampings and
plastics has made them extremely competitive in the automotive industry.
Yachiyo's presence has also expanded globally, including activities in Europe,
Southeast Asia and a stamping operation in Canada.
Said Kazuhira Kato, President of Yachiyo, "Together with Yachiyo's
development and manufacturing strength and ASC's strong history with their
worldwide customer base, A Y Manufacturing is assured a vertically integrated
portfolio of high quality, OEM automotive products for immediate worldwide
production."
The A Y Manufacturing partnership will be headquartered in ASC's existing
Columbus, Ohio, sunroof manufacturing facility. Ichiro Yoshida of Yachiyo
will serve as first term President/CEO and Richard Raterman of ASC has been
named Executive Vice President/COO. With the formation of the new company,
over 200 employees who have been direct employees of ASC will become employees
of A Y Manufacturing. Other ASC operations in Columbus, Ohio, including
convertible systems supply, are unaffected by this merger.
SOURCE ASC Incorporated