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VITEC Celebrates Opening of Plant in Detroit's Empowerment Zone

12 November 1998

VITEC Celebrates Opening of Plant in Detroit's Empowerment Zone

    DETROIT, Nov. 11 -- VITEC, a minority-owned, tier one
supplier of automotive fuel system products, officially opened its 150,000
sq. ft. manufacturing facility in Detroit's Empowerment Zone with an open
house and ribbon cutting ceremony today.
    The VITEC facility is located on a 10-acre site at the Clark Street
Technology Park, within Detroit's Empowerment Zone.  The state-of-the-art
plant will produce blow-molded plastic fuel tanks and related automotive fuel
system products.  VITEC has five-year contracts totaling approximately $700
million to supply fuel tank systems to General Motors and Chrysler.
    VITEC is a partnership of Greenwood Industries Inc., represented by Dr.
William F. Pickard as principal; Detroit Plastic Molding Inc., represented by
Dr. Lawrence D. Crawford as principal; and Walbro Detroit Corp., a subsidiary
of Walbro Corporation, a global designer and manufacturer of precision fuel
systems for automotive and small engine markets.
    Drs. Crawford and Pickard bring plastics manufacturing backgrounds and
business leadership capabilities to the partnership, Walbro brings large-scale
fuel systems technology and blow molding expertise to the venture.
    "We at VITEC are extremely pleased by the support of the many local and
state agencies and our key customers, General Motors and Chrysler, who have
helped us get to where we are today," Pickard, VITEC's chief executive
officer, said at the ribbon cutting ceremony.  "This new facility will provide
high quality jobs for Detroit residents and will help stimulate further growth
within the city.  We hope that the success of VITEC will inspire other
businesses to follow."
    Larry Crawford, VITEC principal, noted, "VITEC is the type of business
that will play an important role in Detroit's Renaissance.  VITEC utilizes
sophisticated, multi-layer blow-molding technology to produce quality plastic
fuel tank systems for automotive customers, and, in the process, provides high
quality jobs."
    VITEC currently employs 30 people as it prepares for production, which is
scheduled to begin in January 1999.  Employment is expected to grow to
approximately 100 by the end of 1999, when full production rates are achieved.
Detroit's Focus:HOPE has played a key role in obtaining and training personnel
to meet the needs of the venture.
    "Walbro Corporation is pleased to be a partner in this significant
venture," said Frank Bauchiero, President and Chief Executive Officer of
Walbro Corporation.  "VITEC will enhance Walbro's core business, provide local
employment and stimulate capital investment in Detroit.  In addition, a
primary factor in establishing this venture is our desire to develop new
minority suppliers and help them grow to achieve the size and resources
necessary to be viable in today's automotive environment."
    The VITEC partnership was announced in October 1996 at a press conference
in Mayor Dennis Archer's office.  Groundbreaking ceremonies for the facility
were held on October 30, 1997.
    Financing for VITEC includes Federal tax relief, special grants, a $13.6
million tax credit from the Michigan Economic Growth Authority, and a $4
million loan from the Detroit Investment Fund.