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SaarGummi Launches Manufacturing in Mexico

4 December 2000

SaarGummi Launches Manufacturing in Mexico

    ANN ARBOR, Mich.--Dec. 4, 2000--SaarGummi has announced the opening of a new manufacturing facility in Guadalajara, Mexico.
    The plant will produce the removable, encapsulated glass panels for the much-anticipated Chevy Avalanche, which is being assembled by GM in nearby Silao, Mexico.
    According to Markus Werner, president and COO of Ann Arbor-based SaarGummi Americas, the 35,000 SF plant has the current capacity to produce 200,000 parts a year. "We designed Guadalajara to respond quickly to increased production needs," notes Werner. "When we began construction in spring, initial projections were for 130,000 parts. We're now looking at 200,000. If the customer needs it, we can easily double that capacity."
    Guadalajara is SaarGummi's first plant in Mexico. Headquartered in Germany, SaarGummi acquired Thona's design, engineering and manufacturing operations in the U.S. and Canada in July, 2000. The company's plants in Canada, Tennessee, and Brazil will specialize in automotive sealing systems, and coordinate global programs with other SaarGummi operations in Germany, Spain, Czech Republic and India.
    SaarGummi is a subsidiary of Saarberg AG, which is part of the $13-billion RAG Group.