Page 8 THE COMMUNITY CRIER: October 23,1996 G e ttin g d o w n to b u s in e s s Johnson Controls expands east Neighbors in business The emerging Far East business field recently got a new player. launched a 22,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Pune. It will supply complete seats, and trim covers for about 20,000 Ford Escort vehicles annually produced by Mahindra-Ford. The Pune plant is also expected to provide seat systems and related components for future vehicle programs in India. Johnson Controls signed a major joint agreement in China, launched its first manufacturing operation in India, opened a new regional office in Singapore and acquired an Australian interior supplier.
Toltest of Plymouth was honored at a luncheon last week in Troy as one of the 1996 Future 50 companies of Greater Detroit. The keynote speaker was former Detroit Piston Vinnie Johnson, president of Piston Packaging. According to Michael Collins, managing director of BDO Seidman, LLP’s Troy office, a cosponsor of the event, Toltest was selected because they demonstrated a remarkable record of success in a very competitive market; retained qualified employees; and met ever increasing demands for quality customer service.
“The Asia/Pacific region market is the next major competitive battleground for automotive suppliers, and we aim to prevail as we have in North America and Europe,” said John Barth, Johnson Controls executive vice president. “Johnson Controls is a major strategic partner for global automakers in an emerging market and we will help ensure their success with world-class interior systems.” Johnson Controls Automotive Systems Group is located in Plymouth Township. In other international Johnson Controls development: •Australia: The purchase of Aldersons by Johnson Controls gives the company its first operations in Australia, and access to business with all four of the country’s major automakers.
•Singapore: Employees at Johnson Controls’ new regional office will develop new business and manage plant-start ups slated to occur by 1999. The company expects to operate facilities in Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Taiwan and Thailand. In China, Johnson Controls formed a joint venture with Beijing Automotive Industry Corporation (BAIC) to produce automotive interior systems and components for major automakers in China. It also opened a new regional office in Singapore to manage the company’s growing business in Asia/Pacific markets.
Just a few weeks ago, the supplier’s new joint venture with India-based Tata Auto Comp Systems began manufacturing seats and related components for Ford cars at a new plant in Pune. •Indonesia: Johnson Controls has a technical agreement with Dmai Columbus in Jakarta to develop and build seats and other automotive interior components for future Chrysler and Ford vehicles. Freundenberg-NOK of Plymouth Township recently announced the sale of its AUTTOCOM composite plastic engine intake manifold business to Southfield based CMI International, Inc., a manufacturer of aluminum and plastic intake manifolds. Terms were not disclosed. •Malaysia:
For Chrysler, Johnson Controls is providing technical assistant and seating components to Malaysia-based automotive supplier Auto Parts Manufacturing, which supplies seats in that market for Jeep Cherokees •Thailand: Johnson Controls has a technical assistance agreement with Summit Auto Seats in Thailand, the country’s largest vehicle producer. Also in August, Johnson Controls acquired Aldersons — a Melbourne, Australia-based interior supplier. Johnson Controls is expected to supply complete seat systems for more than one million vehicles annually in the Asia-Pacific regions by 2000. •Taiwan:
For Opel, Johnson Controls has a technical assistance agreement with Tsuan Hine-GSK to supply seats for Astra cars. Freudenberg-NOK will continue to operate and manage the manifold production activities at its Manchester, NH facility until production is transitioned to CMI facilities, according to Joseph C. Day, CEO of Freudenberg-NOK. Responsibilities for existing development programs will be split between Freudenberg-NOK and CMI until production begins. The new Johnson Controls/BAIC joint venture is called Beijing Johnson Controls Automotive Trim Company.
It will operate an existing 420,000 square foot plant in Beijing, Johnson Controls’ first automotive seating and interior operation in China. Beijing Johnson Controls Automotive will supply seats and other interior components for vehicles produced by Beijing Jeep, such as the Chrysler Jeep Cherokee and Isuzu light trucks. •Japan: Johnson Controls opened a regional office in Tokyo to develop closer relationships with automotive customers and joint- venture partners in Japan. Final deal BAIC, which was founded in 1973, is among the six largest automotive manufacturing corporations in China. It employs 46,000 people.
Ma Shou Ping, chairman of Beijing Automotive Industry Group, says he welcomes the opportunity to work with Johnson Controls in China. He said: “We are impressed with Johnson Controls’ management and technology leadership in the interiors industry. Our goal is for BAIC and Johnson Controls to develop long-term, strategic partnership in the Chinese Automotive market.” B a k e p r e p a r e s t o c l o s e o f f i c e a f t e r Inc. Magazine’s October cover story, “Too Cool For School” features Plymouth business owner Margaret Fitzgerald, a graphic desginer who went back to night school for an MBA as a 1990s business world survival tool.
The Canton Chamber of Commerce announced the grand opening of Dance wear Gallery, 44926 Ford Rd., in Canton Monday. Dancewear Gallery officially opened its doors to the public Sept. 3, and is owned and operated by Cathy and Aimey LeMay. n e a r l y 3 d e c a d e s o f b u s i n e s s It appears long-time Plymouth Realtor Bob Bake is about to close Ws downtown office at Harvey Street and Ann Arbor Trail. Bake, who founded his reality company in 1967, said last week a deal is in the works. “It’s hasn’t been completely resolved yet, but it’s moving in that direction. I don’t have a story for you yet, but it’s more or less dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s,” he said.
Under terms of the agreement, Beijing Johnson Controls Automotive Trim also assumes ownership of a 25 percent share of Beijing Yanxi Automotive Decoration Company, a manufacturer of foam seat cushions. Johnson Controls’ new Indian venture, Tata Johnson Controls Automotive, last month A deal should be completed by the end of the month, Bake said. Canton women honored for 25 years Walker/Buzenberg Fine Furniture will hold a special preview of Ducks Unlimitied Home Funrishings on Friday from 6-9 p.m. Light refreshments will be served.
Through a business partnership agreement between Smith Elementary School and Community Federal Credit Union, a student-operated branch will open Tuesday at Smith Elementary at 9:15 a.m. Participating students are fourth-graders. The project was coordinated by Community Federal’s Debbie Phillips, the Plymouth-Canton Schools’ Betty Bloch and Smith Principal Cheryl Clason. (left photo, second from left) Margaret George and (right photo, second from right) Judith Smyczynski of Canton were recently honored by Hudson’s for 25 years of service at a dinner at the Westin Hotel in Detroit. George works at the Fairlane store and Smyczynski works at the Twelve Oaks Hudson’s.
They were both admitted to Hudson’s 25 Year Club.