Japanese Automotive Supplier Aisin Expands in Illinois

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Researched by Industrialinfo.com (Industrial Information Resources, Incorporated). A recently-formed company, Aisin Light Metals LLC, a division of Aisin Holdings of America Incorporated (Lombard, Illinois) (a subsidiary of Aisin Seiki Company Limited, Kariya, Aichi, Japan) has a new $20 million, 129,000 square foot plant under construction in Marion, Illinois, The plant is located on Redco Drive in the Redco Industrial Park, near the airport and next door to a sister company, Aisin Manufacturing Illinois Incorporated (Plant 1054873). Aisin Manufacturing Illinois, which also has an expansion underway at the present time, manufactures automotive sunroofs and sliding door modules.

Aisin Light Metals was established July 23, 2003, to supply aluminum automotive parts (ABS body cases and bumpers) to Toyota. Production will be managed by Aisin Keikinzoku Company (Shinminate, Toyama, Japan).

Construction on the new plant is expected to begin Monday, November 11, and be under roof by the end of 2003. Zeller-Doster (Franklin, Tennessee) is general contractor for the project.

The Aisin Group (an entity of Aisin Seiki), through its U.S. arm, Aisin Holdings of America Incorporated, established two companies in North America in 2001 - Aisin Brake & Chassis (Terre Haute, Indiana), which makes hydraulic brake boosters, and Aisin Manufacturing Illinois Incorporated (Marion, Illinois). Aisin Brake & Chassis began operations in January 2003, and Aisin Illinois, in July 2002.

Aisin also has a 55,000 square foot plant under construction in Woodstock, Ontario, where they will make belt moldings and windshield trim, primarily for Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada (TMMC). Aisin Woodstock is Aisin's first presence in Canada. Aisin also has a company in London, Kentucky, Aisin Automotive Castings LLC, which makes aluminum die-cast engine and drivetrain parts (see related IIR Industry Alert: Aisin in Major Aluminum Automotive Casting Expansion in Kentucky).

Aisin Holdings of America Incorporated is Aisin Group's administrative arm in North America. Aisin USA Manufacturing Incorporated (Indiana) is Aisin's automotive body parts manufacturing operation, which employs 1,600 and had 2002 sales of $446 million.