CK Technologies to Continue Southwest Expansion with $5 Million Texas Facility

MONTPELIER, Ohio, Nov. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- CK Technologies, LLC (CKT), a unit of Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Cascade Engineering and a leading supplier to the commercial truck and bus market, today announced that it will build a manufacturing facility for base and clear paint application in Fort Worth, Texas.  The new facility, which is part of the Company's strategy of locating its operations in proximity to its customers, involves a capital investment in excess of $5 million and is expected to create approximately 50 jobs during 2012.

CKT has maintained a strong focus on developing innovative solutions and technological advances for the commercial truck and bus market since the Company's founding in 2002.  The Company specializes in large-part manufacturing using large-tonnage injection molding instead of traditional processes, thereby reducing weight and improving structural integrity, overall quality and environmental impact.  CKT's expertise includes chromed and painted exterior surfaces, under-the-hood components, interior consoles, and instrument panels.

The new 197,600 square-foot Fort Worth facility will serve CKT customer operations located in the Southwest and become the Company's third base and clear paint facility dedicated to the commercial truck and bus market. The facility is slated to begin operations in December 2011.  

"The Fort Worth area provides an excellent, additional venue for implementing CKT's strategy of expanding our manufacturing footprint and serving our many customers in the Southwest more efficiently," said Tony Kramer, Commercial Director for CKT.  "Our latest facility will provide a strong complement to our Brownsville operations which opened earlier this year, and we are excited to continue providing employment opportunities for the skilled workforce in this region."

About CK Technologies

CK Technologies (CKT) is a leader in providing innovative truck solutions to the commercial truck and bus (CT&B) industry through engineered plastic systems that deliver cost and weight savings aimed at all three major areas of the vehicle:  exterior, interior and functional (under-the-hood).  The Company was founded in 2002 when CKT recognized a strategic opportunity to position itself as a highly focused Tier 1 supplier of choice specific to the CT&B market.  CKT specializes in low-volume, high-variety injection molding, assembly, chrome, prime paint, and base/clear finishing, with locations in Ohio, North Carolina, Texas, Michigan and Mexico.  Like the other business units in the Cascade Engineering family of companies (www.cascadeng.com), CKT has made sustainability the heart of everything it does – from business strategy to product development and commercialization.  CKT is a "triple bottom line" company guided by a strong focus on growth as well as the understanding that business can play a key role in making a positive environmental and social impact.  For more information, visit the company's website at www.cktech.biz.

SOURCE CK Technologies, LLC