TROY, Mich., April 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Behr America plans to nearly double
the size of its North American headquarters in Troy, add new business at its
renovated Dayton Thermal Products plant in Ohio and build a major new
production facility in Mexico.
"We are laying the foundation for further growth in North America," says
Frank Mueller, president and CEO of Behr America. "Our continuing expansion
here demonstrates a clear commitment to our customers in North America."
In Troy, Behr is adding an $8.5-million, three-story, 69,000-square-foot
office building, increasing the overall size of its four-year-old North
American headquarters and technical center by more than 75 percent. It will
be the second major expansion at the Troy location in the past three years.
Constructed on a recently acquired 2.3-acre site adjoining Behr America's
current headquarters campus, the new building will provide space for nearly
270 Behr employees now working in rented facilities in the area and will allow
for further engineering and program-management job growth over the next
several years. The new facility is expected to open early next year.
"We've outgrown our Troy campus in less than four years," notes Mueller.
"Our Michigan-based headquarters-and-technical staff has grown from less than
100 employees in 2002 to nearly 550 today. We expect even further growth to
around 600 people within the next several years."
Behr's technical center in Troy is one of the world's most advanced
testing facilities for vehicle thermal management. It includes a $15-million,
high-technology climatic wind tunnel opened in 2004 that enables Behr
researchers and product-development engineers to test air-conditioning and
engine-cooling systems in all categories of cars and trucks with extreme
precision under any climate or road condition. The facility also is used by
other suppliers and automakers.
New Programs at Behr Dayton Thermal Products
In Ohio, Behr Dayton Thermal Products is increasing its production
capacity. The facility recently began manufacturing rear air-conditioning
systems for several new General Motors products. Acquired in 2002 from
DaimlerChrysler, Dayton is Behr's largest production plant in North America.
"This year we are launching our first GM business in Dayton," notes Dean
Arneson, Behr vice president and Dayton plant manager. "We have two
production lines already running with more lines scheduled to open before the
end of the year."
Behr Plans Manufacturing Plant in Mexico
In northeast Mexico, Behr soon will break ground for a new production
plant. Two sites currently are under consideration. The plant will produce
engine-cooling modules and components and will provide additional capacity for
Behr's business growth beyond 2007.
"It should be noted that our new Mexican plant will be built near customer
assembly plants in Mexico," says Mueller. "It will not impact operations at
other Behr America plants in North America."
The facility in Mexico will be built in two stages, with the first
130,000-square-foot building scheduled for completion by the end of 2006 with
an initial investment of $13 million. When phase one is completed, the plant
is expected to employ 250 people with estimated annual sales of $110 million.
The Behr Group's customer base includes all major car and light-truck
manufacturers, as well as major heavy-truck manufacturers.
Headquartered in Troy, Mich., Behr America has nearly 3,000 employees at
facilities in Troy, Mich.; Dayton, Ohio; Charleston, S.C., and Fort Worth,
Texas.
Parent Behr GmbH & Co. KG, Stuttgart, is a systems partner for the
international automobile industry. A specialist for automotive air-
conditioning and engine-cooling systems, the Behr Group is one of the world's
leading manufacturers and suppliers of original equipment for passenger and
commercial vehicles. Group sales in the 2005 business year were approximately
$3.8 billion. Currently Behr employs more than 18,000 people at 10
development and 30 production sites in Europe, North and South America, Asia
and South Africa.
For additional company information, please visit
http://www.behrgroup.com .
SOURCE Behr America, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.behrgroup.com
CONTACT:
Indira Sadikovic of Behr America, Inc.,
+1-248-743-3771, E-mail: indira.sadikovic@us.behrgroup.com ;
Larry Weis, lweis@usautocom.com , or Janet Krol,
jkrol@usautocom.com , of AutoCom Associates, +1-248-647-8621, for
Behr America, Inc.
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