Meritor Suspension Systems Company Breaks Ground on New Hot Coil Spring Line at Hopkinsville, Ky., Facility
24 May 2000
Meritor Suspension Systems Company Breaks Ground on New Hot Coil Spring Line at Hopkinsville, Ky., Facility
HOPKINSVILLE, Ky., May 24 Meritor Automotive, Inc.
announced that Meritor Suspension Systems Company (MSSC) today
broke ground on the expansion to its plant in Hopkinsville, Ky. MSSC is a
joint venture between Meritor and Mitsubishi Steel Manufacturing of Japan.
The expansion will enable MSSC to meet the expected increased demand for
suspension components within the next five years.
With an initial capital investment of $13 million and occupying a space of
25,000 square feet, the new production center will produce hot coil springs
for its light vehicle OEM customers in North America. The expansion also is
expected to create over 40 jobs in the Hopkinsville area within two years.
Robert Patrician, president of Meritor Suspension Systems Company, said,
"We have recently been selected as a supplier for several new vehicle
platforms, and our customers have requested that we locate coil spring
manufacturing capacity in the United States. Our hot coil spring expansion
not only will help boost the economy of the Hopkinsville community with new
jobs, but it will help drive the growth for MSSC."
Hopkinsville Mayor Rich Liebe said, "We're extremely pleased that a
company of this caliber has chosen to expand its manufacturing operations in
Hopkinsville. We're looking forward to the employment and other opportunities
MSSC will create as a result of its expansion." Christian County Judge
Executive Steve Tribble added, "We're proud to have an outstanding company
such as MSSC in our county, and we appreciate their commitment."
The Hopkinsville plant currently produces stabilizer bars and torsion
bars, suspension systems parts that are critical to the safe operation of
passenger cars and light trucks. The expansion supports Meritor LVS' two-
pronged strategic direction to become a Tier 1 global supplier in
undercarriage components and systems, such as wheels, suspension systems, and
corner modules; and in aperture systems, which includes door, access control
and roof systems.
MSSC supplies several North American OEMs and exports to customers in
Germany, Austria, Mexico, Brazil and the Middle East. The company has North
American manufacturing facilities that are QS 9000 certified in Milton, and
Chatham, Ontario, Canada, as well as Hopkinsville, Ky. MSSC recently acquired
privately-held Tempered Spring Co., a leading supplier of automotive
suspension components based in Sheffield, England.
Meritor, with 1999 sales of $4.5 billion, is a global supplier of a broad
range of components and systems for commercial, specialty and light vehicle
OEMs and the aftermarket. Meritor consists of two businesses: Light Vehicle
Systems, a major supplier of roof, door, access control and suspension systems
and wheel products for passenger cars, light trucks and sport utility
vehicles; and Heavy Vehicle Systems, a leading supplier of drivetrain systems
and components for medium- and heavy-duty trucks, trailers and off-highway
equipment and specialty vehicles, including military, bus and coach, and fire
and rescue.
This news release contains statements relating to future results that are
"forward-looking statements" as defined in the Private Securities Litigation
Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from those projected
as a result of certain risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to
those detailed from time to time in the company's Securities and Exchange
Commission filings.