Governor Kay Ivey announced that ILJIN, an automotive and industrial bearings and chassis manufacturer, will invest nearly $100 million in a new facility in Auburn, Alabama, creating approximately 160 jobs. The operation will be established in an existing building at Auburn Technology Park North. The facility will produce forged aluminum control arms for several U.S. customers, marking ILJIN’s entry into the aluminum forging market.
What it means
The Auburn facility expands ILJIN’s North American manufacturing footprint, which began 15 years ago when the company opened its first North American wheel bearing facility in Phenix City, Alabama. Raw forgings produced in Auburn will be sent to ILJIN’s Greer, South Carolina, facility for final processing. Auburn Mayor Ron Anders cited planned collaboration with Auburn University and Southern Union State Community College for talent sourcing to staff the facility.
“We have found the U.S., and in particular the state of Alabama, to be the most productive, the most competitive and the highest yielding of all our recent investments,” said DS Lee, Chairman of ILJIN. John Dix, President of ILJIN USA, said the facility will enable the company to “produce the highest quality and lowest cost aluminum forgings for our customers.”
Key facts
- Investment: nearly $100 million (according to the company)
- Jobs created: approximately 160
- Location: Auburn Technology Park North, Auburn, Alabama (existing building)
- Product: forged aluminum control arms for U.S. customers
- Raw forgings to be sent to ILJIN’s Greer, South Carolina, facility for final processing
- ILJIN’s first Alabama facility opened in Phenix City approximately 15 years ago
- ILJIN described as the world’s largest GEN3 wheel bearing maker; founded 1973
- Alabama ranks 5th among U.S. states in vehicle production
Source: madeinalabama.com, reporting a Governor Kay Ivey announcement