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Hella Lighting Division Opens New Plant in South Carolina

16 January 2001

Hella Lighting Division Opens New Plant in South Carolina

    PLYMOUTH, Mich., Jan. 16 Hella North America will begin
production of automotive headlamps in 2002 at a new $20 million plant in York,
S.C., according to Joseph V. Borruso, the company's president and CEO.
    The York facility is one of only a few plants in North America to produce
fully recyclable headlamps for the automotive market.
    "Our state-of-the-art York plant will be Hella's most advanced headlamp
facility," said Jason Bonin, vice president of lighting technology at Hella
Lighting Corporation.  "The plant will manufacture all of the components
necessary for headlamps and fog lamps on the premises.  It demonstrates our
commitment to being a full-service lighting supplier in the U.S."
    Annual headlamp production at the York facility is expected to reach 1.5
million units.  The plant eventually will employ more than 100 people,
handling orders totaling more than $100 million per year.
    The facility's production line, still in its start-up phase, is currently
launching its first OEM lighting program for DaimlerChrysler and also is
assembling various lighting components for Hella's aftermarket business.
    "The decision to build this 120,000 square foot plant south of Charlotte,
N.C., resulted from an intensive search," said Joe Brase, controller of
Hella's Lighting Division.  "We chose York because of its dedicated work
force, attractive surroundings and highly favorable business climate for
manufacturers, suppliers and employees alike."
    Hella is a tier one supplier of lighting, electronic equipment, sensors
and complete vehicle front-end modules to the auto industry.  Hella North
America and its parent company, Hella KG Hueck & Company, have 22,000
employees at more than 30 production locations in 16 countries throughout the
world.  Worldwide consolidated sales for Hella during the company's 1999-2000
fiscal year grew to more than $2.4 billion.  Additional information about the
company is available on the Internet at http://www.hella.de and
http://www.hellana.com