Collins & Aikman Inaugurates Global Headquarters

29 June 2000

Collins & Aikman Inaugurates Global Headquarters

    TROY, Mich. - Collins & Aikman Corporation today held its ribbon-cutting ceremony officially marking the relocation of its global headquarters from Charlotte, N.C. to Troy, Mich. On hand at today's ceremony were Chairman and CEO Thomas E. Evans, Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson, Mayor of Troy Jeanne Stine and State Representative Robert Gosselin. In addition, Margaret O'Reilly from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and Pat Wierzbicki, Regional Representative for U.S. Senator Spencer Abraham, were in attendance to officially welcome Collins & Aikman to the State of Michigan.

    "Collins & Aikman's relocation to the heart of the automotive capital of the world is a powerful step in our mission to drive innovation in automotive interiors," said Chairman and CEO Thomas E. Evans. "A key reason for our relocation is our Company's recognition of the importance of being closer to our customers and the entire automotive industry. As Collins & Aikman continues to grow, we expect to further enhance the economic and employment bases of Oakland County, the State of Michigan and all the other global communities where Collins & Aikman facilities are located."

    In welcoming Collins & Aikman to Metro Detroit, Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson remarked, "Collins & Aikman's decision to relocate to Michigan is proof positive of the first-rate business climate here in Oakland County and in the State. As one of our newest members of "Automation Alley," we are very excited about pursuing future opportunities with Collins & Aikman. I am confident that both Collins & Aikman and Oakland County will continue to benefit from this partnership."

    The global headquarters, located in the I-75 technology corridor, currently houses over 140 employees with the capacity for more than 160 employees. Since Collins & Aikman moved its center of operations to Michigan, nearly 40 new headquarters positions were created and approximately 20 employees relocated from other out-of-state locations to the headquarters. The Company has invested more than $10 million in acquiring the campus's 8.1 acres of land and in constructing and furnishing the 60,000-square-foot building.

    During the evening's reception, guests were given a tour of the global headquarters including the Customer Exhibit Room and Surface Design Room. In the Customer Exhibit Room, demonstrations of the technological breadth of Collins & Aikman's capabilities were showcased. The following technologies are just some examples of what the guests saw:

    OPTIMASS(TM)

    As telematics are integrated into current and future vehicle programs, the need to control noise fields within a vehicle's interior environment becomes increasingly important. Collins & Aikman, a leader in flooring and acoustic systems, helps customers enhance the overall acoustic performance of their vehicles by utilizing its proprietary Optimass(TM) System. Optimass(TM) balances the cost, weight and performance properties of acoustic components, literally "fine tuning" a vehicle's acoustic package to meet customers' needs.

    CONVERTIBLE TOP SYSTEMS

    Another highlight of Collins & Aikman's technological capabilities was the full-size working model of Collins & Aikman's exclusive Advanced Hydraulic Actuation (AHA System(TM)) world-class convertible top system technology. Collins & Aikman supplies nearly 70 percent of the convertible top systems of North American vehicles including the Ford Mustang, Chrysler Sebring, Chevrolet Corvette and Plymouth Prowler models.

    REMYX(TM)

    Showcased in the Company's Surface Design Room was the ReMyx(TM) concept interior demonstrating the Company's ability to modularly customize vehicle interior surfaces while simultaneously ensuring the overall harmonization of the interior environment. By designing into interior components the ability to change various styling cues, automotive manufacturers will have the ability to quickly and easily change the look and feel of a vehicle's interior. In addition to providing automotive designers with a creative tool for experimenting with different interior surface treatments, using ReMyx(TM) should enable both OEMs and Tier I integrators to realize lower costs for vehicle "refreshings" by minimizing tooling costs.

    Collins & Aikman Corporation is a global manufacturer of floor and acoustic systems and a leading supplier of automotive fabric, interior trim, and convertible top systems. The company's operations span the globe with 63 facilities and nearly 16,000 employees in 12 countries who are committed to achieving total excellence. Collins & Aikman's high-quality products combine industry-leading design and styling capabilities, superior manufacturing capabilities and the industry's most effective NVH "quiet" technologies.