Autoliv Expands Indiana Plant

---

Researched by Industrialinfo.com (Industrial Information Resources, Incorporated; Houston, Texas). Autoliv Incorporated (NYSE:ALV) (Auburn Hills, Michigan), North American subsidiary of Autoliv Incorporated (OTC:AUTVF) (Stockholm, Sweden), is nearing completion of a sizable expansion of its Columbia City, Indiana, plant. The expansion will double the manufacturing area of the company's Columbia City plant, to 240,000 square feet, and is expected to occasion the hiring of 700 new workers, effectively tripling its present workforce.

Schenkel & Sons Incorporated (Fort Wayne, Indiana) was chosen as general contractor for the $37 million expansion project, which began last October. Phase I, the front section of the new construction, is expected to be ready for move-in by April 2005, with Phase II being completed by June.

Autoliv is distinguished as the inventor of side-impact airbags and inflatable curtains, as well as the anti-whiplash seat. It is also developing rollover protection systems, night vision systems, and pedestrian protection systems, as well as its lines of passenger safety restraints. The company's policy has typically been to set up manufacturing capacity where the major vehicle OEM customers are, to enable just-in-time delivery. Its manufacturing facilities are highly automated, allowing for low-cost production in high-wage countries, where its largest customers are located. To assure standardization and high quality, as well as maintaining proprietary production technologies, Autoliv's production lines and equipment are typically developed and manufactured by Autoliv itself and its manufacturing machinery company Autoliv Automation. During the past few years, in an effort at cost containment, Autoliv has moved over 35% of its employment to low-cost countries, as compared to less than 10% four years ago, according to its website. Autoliv employs some 38,900 workers worldwide in 25 countries, 8000 of them in the United States. Over the past two and a half years, Autoliv has raised its quarterly dividend per share by 173% in five steps, from 11 cents to 30 cents per share.

View Plant Profile - 1061055 1035029 1020999 1035025 1024466 1035726

Industrialinfo.com is the leading provider of global industrial market research. We specialize in helping companies develop information solutions to maximize their sales and marketing efforts.