Gentex Expands Internationally
12 May 1998
Gentex Expands Internationally
ZEELAND, Mich., May 12 -- Gentex Corporation ,
the Zeeland, Michigan-based manufacturer of automatic-dimming mirrors and fire
protection products, today announced that it has opened a sales and
engineering office in Japan, and established a warehouse operation in Germany.
Gentex pioneered Night Vision Safety(TM) (NVS(R)) Mirrors, which
automatically darken to reduce glare from the headlamps of vehicles
approaching from the rear. The brighter the glare, the darker the mirrors
become, making nighttime driving safer.
The newly formed Gentex Japan, Inc., located in Nagoya, will house sales
and engineering operations designed to serve the Company's automotive
customers in Japan and throughout the Asia/Pacific region. The office will be
directed by General Manager Kazuhiko ("Hiko") Nishijima.
"When we first entered the Asia/Pacific region seven years ago, we sold
our mirrors through third parties," said Gentex Executive Vice President
Kenneth La Grand. "Our subsequent sales growth, however, demanded that we one
day establish a local presence in the market. We're pleased to announce that
through our Nagoya office, we're now poised to more effectively meet the
unique service, design and engineering needs of our current and future
automotive customers throughout the region."
In order to support the Company's rapidly growing European business,
Gentex has also established a warehouse in Weinsberg, Germany, which will
provide logistics for local parts distribution. NVS Mirrors will be shipped
from the Company's Zeeland manufacturing facilities to Weinsberg where they'll
be packaged, labeled, sorted and shipped according to the specific
requirements of its European customers.
Gentex currently has a sales and engineering office in Neckarsulm,
Germany, which will soon be moving to the Weinsberg facility. The entire
Gentex GmbH organization is under the direction of Managing Director Klaus
Weibler.
"We've experienced tremendous growth in Europe, especially with our
exterior aspheric (wide angle) mirrors," said La Grand. "The new facility
will help us improve just-in-time delivery to our customers while handling a
very technically complex product. The warehouse will also help us introduce
light assembly or manufacturing operations as required by future market
conditions."
Gentex NVS unit shipments to offshore customers increased by 50 percent
last year, representing 32 percent of all units shipped in 1997. In the first
quarter of 1998, these shipments further increased by 43 percent compared with
the first quarter of 1997. Currently, approximately 20 percent of the
Company's revenues come from sales to European customers, while approximately
six percent comes from customers in the Asia/Pacific region.
Gentex Corporation is an international company that provides high-quality
products to the worldwide automotive industry and North American fire
protection market. The Company develops, manufactures and markets proprietary
electro-optic products, including interior and exterior electrochromic,
automatic-dimming Night Vision Safety(TM) (NVS(R)) automotive rearview mirrors
that dim in proportion to the amount of headlight glare from trailing vehicle
headlamps, and an extensive line of fire protection products for commercial
applications.
Gentex was the first company in the world to successfully develop and
produce a commercial electrochromic mirror for the motor vehicle industry.
The Company is the leading supplier of these mirrors to the worldwide
automotive industry. Gentex customers include Audi, Bentley, BMW, Chrysler,
Daewoo, Fiat, Ford, General Motors, Gulf States Toyota, Honda, Hyundai,
Infiniti, Kia Motors, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Opel, Porsche,
Rolls-Royce and Southeast Toyota Distributors.
Founded in 1974, Gentex operates out of three facilities in Zeeland,
Michigan; an automotive sales office in Livonia, Michigan; automotive sales
and engineering subsidiaries in Germany and Japan; and five regional U.S.
sales offices for the Fire Protection Products Group. The Company is
recognized for its quality products, its application of world class
manufacturing principles, for its commitment to developing and maintaining a
highly skilled workforce, and for encouraging employee ownership of the
Company's stock.
SOURCE Gentex Corporation