Japanese Automotive Tier Supplier Invests $25.6 Million to Expand Indiana Operations

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Researched by Industrialinfo.com (Industrial Information Resources, Incorporated). Austin Tri-Hawk Automotive Incorporated (Austin, Indiana), a Tier I Automotive Supplier is planning to spend $25.6 million to expand its current metal stamping plant (Plant 1047857) in Austin, Indiana.

This will be the third building expansion at the plant, since it has begun production in 1999. The first expansion was a two phase, 300,000 square foot building expansion in 2001 (PEC 11001728). The second occurred in the summer of 2003 and consisted of a 40,000 square foot expansion. The current project includes the construction of an additional 16,000 square feet of manufacturing space and installation of new robotics, tooling, stamping presses, and welding equipment. Construction is slated to begin in late January 2004 upon receipt of construction permits and is scheduled to be completed by mid-summer 2004.

Force Construction (Columbus, Indiana) has been named the general contractor.

Austin Tri-Hawk is a subsidiary of Kikuchi Press of Japan. The Austin plant produces underbody components for the Subaru assembly plant in Lafayette, Indiana, which manufacturers Subaru and Isuzu vehicles. Austin Tri-Hawk is a Tier II supplier for the Katayama automotive company for whom they supply metal stampings used in door sash frames, moldings, and bellow tubes.