Johnson Controls Teams Up with Plastech Engineered Products
26 July 1999
Johnson Controls Teams Up with Plastech Engineered Products For Grand Opening of TrimQuest Near Grand Rapids, Michigan
Minority Joint Venture Gears Up for Production
Of Vehicle Overhead Systems, Headliners for Ford
WALKER, Mich., July 23 -- TrimQuest L.L.C., a minority joint
venture between Johnson Controls, Inc. and Dearborn, Michigan-
based Plastech Engineered Products, today held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to
mark the production launch of the company in Walker, Michigan.
Johnson Controls is the world's leading supplier of automotive interior
systems. Plastech is a full-service supplier of metal stampings and injection-
molded and blow-molded plastic components for vehicles. Johnson Controls and
Plastech formed TrimQuest last March to supply integrated vehicle overhead
systems and headliners to Ford for 2000 model-year cars, trucks and vans.
The Walker, Michigan headquarters for TrimQuest is located just northwest
of Grand Rapids. The company will supply overhead systems and polyurethane
headliners from its 110,000-square-foot plant in Walker. Vehicles to be
supplied by TrimQuest include the 2000 model year Ford Crown Victoria,
Econoline van, F-Series pickup; Mercury Grand Marquis and Villager minivan.
Attending today's ribbon-cutting ceremony were executives from Ford,
Johnson Controls and Plastech, including Robert Stander, vice president and
general manager of interior operations for Johnson Controls, and Jim Brown,
chief operating officer of Plastech. Several local and state officials also
participated in the plant opening, including Jim Hatch, Walker city manager
and Doug Voshell, account manager for the Michigan Economic Development
Corporation.
"Johnson Controls is committed to advancing minority business
enterprises," said Stander. "TrimQuest is an excellent example of how
automotive suppliers partner with minority businesses to create a 'win-win'
opportunity for both organizations."
Julie Brown, chief executive officer for Plastech, will serve as chairman
and chief executive officer of TrimQuest.
Leading the TrimQuest team with Brown is Mike Melinn, vice president and
general manager for the joint venture. He previously held various management
positions at Johnson Controls in the company's Ford Business Unit.
"We have worked very hard to create a unique vision and culture for
TrimQuest," Melinn said. "This company will have a strong focus on people,
opportunity, products and seamless execution."
Jim Brown said that TrimQuest's vision is to provide customers with best-
in-class technology, quality and cost, within the context of a minority
enterprise.
"The TrimQuest management team has done an outstanding job in creating
opportunities for the minority community," he said.
TrimQuest is seeking official certification as a minority business
enterprise from the Michigan Minority Business Development Council, a
statewide organization that supports minority businesses. This joint venture
-- the first between Johnson Controls and Plastech -- brings together two
companies that have maintained a strong business relationship during the past
eight years. Plastech supplies a variety of plastic components for seating and
interior systems manufactured by Johnson Controls, including seat side shields
and back panels, and parts for door panels and overhead systems.
Plastech, a recognized Michigan minority business enterprise (MBE), will
be the majority partner of the joint-venture operation. Founded in 1988, the
privately held company achieved 1998 sales of more than $400 million. It
employs 2,500 people at 16 locations in North America and South America. A
full-service automotive supplier, Plastech provides stampings, injected-molded
assemblies, interior and exterior painted components, and laser fabrication.
Its customers include DaimlerChrysler, Ford, General Motors, Toyota, Honda and
Nissan.
The Plymouth, Michigan-based automotive business of Johnson Controls --
which employs more than 57,000 people at 275 facilities worldwide -- achieved
US$9.3 billion in sales for the 1998 fiscal year. In model-year 1999, it will
supply interior products for more than 22 million vehicles. The company is a
leading innovator and top producer of fully integrated vehicle overhead
systems.
Johnson Controls, Inc. is a global leader in automotive systems and
facility management and control. In the automotive market, it is a major
supplier of seating and interior systems, and batteries. For non-residential
facilities, Johnson Controls provides building control systems and services,
energy management and integrated facility management. Johnson Controls,
founded in 1885, has headquarters in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Its sales for 1998
totaled US$12.6 billion.
CONTACT: David Roznowski of Johnson Controls, 734-254-5632/
Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/473547.html or fax,
800-758-5804, ext. 473547.
Web site: http://www.johnsoncontrols.com
(JCI)