Oxford Automotive Announces Opening of New Plant In Ramos Arizpe, Mexico
11 February 2000
Oxford Automotive, Inc. Announces Grand Opening of New Plant In Ramos Arizpe, Mexico
TROY, Mich., Feb. 10 -- Oxford Automotive, Inc. a Tier 1 OEM
automotive supplier has announced the unveiling ceremony for its newest plant
located in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico to occur on February 10, 2000.
The Ramos Arizpe plant sets itself apart by virtue of its adherence to the
"Go Fast" program management strategy which made possible the design,
construction and implementation of plant products, tools, and equipment to be
operational within a brief 18 month window. The "Go Fast" strategy drives the
company's ability to satisfy OEM needs by bringing products to the global
marketplace in the shortest time possible.
"This facility represents a very bright future for Oxford Automotive and
is an example of our ability to execute plans and projects on a global scale
in record time. From the robotics to the floor tiles, this plant was created
utilizing our international resources and personnel with painstaking planning
and program management. We have complete confidence that the Ramos Arizpe
staff is on board with our exceptional quality standards to meet and beat our
customers' expectations," said Steven Abelman, president and CEO of Oxford
Automotive.
"In addition, Ramos Arizpe has been benchmarked against leading stamping
and body shop operations worldwide and serves as a showcase for Oxford
Automotive's program management system that emphasizes intense employee
training," added Al Gallo, vice president of Latin America for Oxford
Automotive. "For example, over 20 members of the Oxford Mexican management
team have recently returned from a one year stay in Michigan where they spent
each day learning our systems and management approach at our Troy
headquarters. We're very excited about the capabilities of this new plant and
the staff and customers that we've worked so hard to cultivate in these past
months."
"Oxford has definitely demonstrated that they are the ones to call on when
a project needs to be put together efficiently and quickly," said Hector De
Hoyos, director of assembly for General Motors assembly plant in Ramos Arizpe,
Mexico. "We have certainly been impressed by their staff's ability to step up
to new projects and demonstrate their ability to solve problems while keeping
the bottom-line in mind."
The presentation of the Ramos Arizpe plant will begin with remarks from
the master of ceremony, Al Gallo, vice president of Latin America for Oxford
Automotive. A welcome from key Oxford management, Selwyn Isakow, chairman,
and Steve Abelman, president and CEO, followed by speeches from Roberto
Guiterrez, Mayor of Ramos Arizpe, Tereso Medina, CTM union representative and
Enrique Martinez, State Governor of Mexico. Rick Hayes, director of GMT 250
Program for Oxford Automotive, and Tereso Medina will present a commemorative
plaque unveiling followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony conducted by Steve
Abelman. Guests will be given a plant tour where Governor Martinez will start
production of the new state-of-the-art Ravne Stamping System.
The Ramos Arizpe plant will produce complete class "A" closure assemblies,
complex underbody assemblies, wheelhouses, rear compartment, and front floor
assemblies. The facility is state-of-the-art at approximately 330,000 square
feet with plans to expand into 400,000 square feet to accommodate additional
projects. The plant will employ a workforce of 400 people. The plant's
technology arsenal includes more than 30 presses, some of which are fully
automated, ranging from 150 to 1500 tons.
Oxford Automotive, Inc., a privately held company headquartered in Troy,
Michigan, is a leading full service Tier 1 designer and producer of high-
quality, engineered metal components, assemblies and modules used by
automotive OEMs. Oxford currently operates 24 facilities in five countries
with state of the art technologies in metal stamping, rollforming, welding and
assembly equipment.