DCT and Proeza Announce New Joint Venture Company
10 March 2000
DCT and Proeza Announce New Joint Venture Company
STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich.--March 9, 2000-- Automotive manufacturing systems integrator DCT and Mexico-based Promotora de Empresas Zano (Proeza) have announced the formation of a new joint venture company, DCT-tek to be based in Monterrey, Mexico. DCT-tek will provide welding, assembly, automation and laser systems to Mexico and the Central and South American automotive markets."We're delighted with this opportunity to launch our services to this market with such a well-respected partner as Proeza," says DCT president Jeff Moss. "We know this type of international partnering helps us better meet our customers' needs.
"DCT-tek will allow us to improve service to our existing customers as well as grow our collective customer base, expand our technical product offerings, and offer our products and services more effectively."
"Teaming with DCT is a timely move for us," says Proeza Automotive president Antonio Zarate. "Automotive production in Mexico is expected to grow from 1.5 million units to 2.4 million by 2004. DCT-tek positions us to meet the needs of this growing automotive market.
"Combining DCT's advanced virtual design capabilities, robust manufacturing and complete integration services to our existing metal and plastic auto parts stampings and assemblies production helps leverage both companies' strengths to continue to stay ahead of global market changes," Zarate says.
Scott Watts, vice president of DCT Support Services and key DCT negotiator for this venture says a number of factors led to the formation of DCT-tek. "We knew that many of our customers in Mexico would benefit from local engineering, manufacturing, integration and plant support. We decided to aggressively meet this need; our customers have enthusiastically supported our decision."
Mauricio Duran, newly-named chief executive officer of DCT-tek adds, "The combination of DCT technology and availability of local talent from our internationally-known Mexican universities allows us to offer the best manufacturing technologies and services available to this market. Our initial focus is built around two key "value-added" activities -- engineering and plant support.
"However, DCT-tek will be a full service supplier in every sense of the word, offering process development, systems engineering, manufacturing, build, plant installation, system launch, training and support."
DCT-tek will be staffed entirely from the Monterrey area.
DCT, headquartered in Sterling Heights, Mich., and established in 1966, is an ISO 9001-certified supplier of a wide range of manufacturing technologies to the world's automakers providing welding and assembly systems, automation systems, and laser systems. In addition, its in-plant services include installation, launch, training and system support. DCT has four facilities in Michigan, an engineering office in Japan and a sales office in China.
Proeza, with corporate offices in Monterrey, Mexico has three divisions in addition to Proeza Automotive -- Proeza Foundry, specializing in the manufacturing of ductile cast iron products and who recently signed a letter of intent to start a joint venture with Grede Foundries in the U.S.; Proeza Juices and Fruits, focusing on the production, processing and commercialization of fruits and its by-products; and Proeza Business in Development, offering technology and mechanical services.
Proeza's automotive division started in 1956 with Metalsa, a provider of automotive structural parts and the largest Proeza automotive company with Tower Automotive as its strategic partner; Prolvay, a manufacturer of plastic fuel tanks with Solvay from Belgium as a partner; and Perfek, a provider of stamping dies to the automotive industry who recently signed a letter of intent to start a joint venture with Ogihara from Japan. Proeza Automotive's four manufacturing facilities are located throughout the Republic of Mexico.