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Budd Opens Stamping Plant in Mexico

19 April 2000

Budd Opens Stamping Plant in Mexico

    TROY, Mich., April 19 The Budd Company today announced the
official opening of a new $50 million stamping and assembly plant in Silao,
Mexico as part of a joint venture with two Japanese partners.
    The joint venture, Aventec S.A. de C.V., is producing exterior body
panels, such as doors and hoods, for a number of current model vehicles
produced in Mexico including the General Motors Suburban and Yukon sport
utility vehicles.
    Joining Troy-based Budd in the joint venture are Hirotec Corporation of
Hiroshima, Japan and Sumitomo Corporation of Tokyo, Japan.
    "This new facility represents yet another step in the global nature of our
business," said Siegfried Buschmann, chairman and CEO of Budd, at the grand
opening ceremonies for the Aventec plant in Silao.  Budd is part of the $5.7
billion Thyssen Krupp Automotive AG.  Buschmann is also vice chairman of
ThyssenKrupp Automotive which is based in Bochum, Germany.
    "This state of the art facility is strategically located close to our
customer, GM, and other OEMs who are currently producing or planning to
produce vehicles in Mexico," said Buschmann.
    The fully operational plant is 316,000 square feet, situated on a 39-acre
parcel in Fipasi Industrial Park in the state of Guanajuanto.  Employment is
currently 425.
    The plant features two automated press lines as well as state-of-the-art
robotics and assembly equipment.
    Budd, headquartered in Troy, Mich., produces components such as doors,
fenders, roofs, hoods, and decklids in sheet metal as well as in sheet molded
composite (SMC), and gray iron and ductile iron castings for about 100 current
vehicle models.  Budd also makes prototypes, chassis frames and subframes,
bumpers and bumper reinforcements, cold weather starting and heating products,
and air bag components for the automotive industry.
    Budd operates 34 facilities with more than 12,000 employees in North
America.  In addition, the company has offices in Stuttgart, Germany, and
Tokyo, Japan.
    ThyssenKrupp Automotive provides body systems, chassis & suspension parts
and powertrain components and systems/suspension to the automotive industry
worldwide.