AUBURN HILLS, Mich., July 31, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- GKN Driveline and GKN Sinter Metals are expanding their automotive operations and moving to a new regional headquarters for the Americas in the Detroit suburb of Auburn Hills early next year.
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The new site will also house employees from GKN's Land Systems and North American Services groups. Construction of the 168,000-square-foot facility is scheduled to begin in August on an 11.2-acre site at 2150 N. Opdyke Road, the location of a now-vacant Showcase Cinema complex.
Headquartered in Auburn Hills since 1986, GKN has more than 300 employees at its current 113,000-square-foot facility at 3300 University Drive. Employment is expected to grow by 50 or more full-time employees in the next three years.
GKN Driveline is the world's leading producer of automotive driveline components and systems including constant-velocity-joint, all-wheel-drive, trans-axle and electric-drive systems. GKN Sinter Metals is the world's largest producer of precision powder-metal products.
GKN's new headquarters complex will provide additional space for state-of-the-art testing and validation equipment along with additional engineering design areas for driveline and sinter metal products. Executive management teams from both GKN Driveline and GKN Sinter Metals will be located in the new headquarters building along with various engineering groups and other corporate activities.
Robert Willig, president of GKN Driveline Americas noted that the need for additional space and resources has become paramount in view of GKN's substantial growth in recent years and the number of major new program launches planned for the Americas.
"GKN has significantly increased its engineering resources in the past four years and plans to recruit and hire even more engineering personnel to support more than 100 new program launches in the next three years for GKN Driveline and GKN Sinter Metals," Willig said. "Our new headquarters facility underlines our commitment to our customers and to the Americas."
"The increase in demand for our technology-leading driveline systems made it essential for us to find a suitable facility to support projected growth and better serve our customers."
Chris Franks, president, GKN Sinter Metals Americas, added: "The additional space is ideally located in close proximity to many of our global customers and will give us access to the additional resources needed to provide our customers with world-class precision powder-metal products and allow us to deliver on our corporate vision of providing 'Engineering That Moves The World'."
GKN officials would also like to acknowledge "the tremendous support" provided for the project by Michigan Governor Rick Snyder's office, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the City of Auburn Hills.
About GKN Driveline
GKN Driveline is the world's leading supplier of automotive driveline components and systems. As a global company serving the world's leading vehicle manufacturers, GKN Driveline develops, builds and supplies an extensive range of automotive driveline components – for use in the smallest ultra low-cost car to the most sophisticated premium vehicle demanding the most complex driving dynamics.
GKN Driveline is a leading global producer of CVJ Systems, AWD Systems, Trans Axle Solutions and eDrive Systems and operates in 22 countries at 56 locations employing 22,000 people.
About GKN Sinter Metals
GKN Sinter Metals is the world's largest producer of precision powder metal products. With a focus on superior delivery, quality and total solutions, the company offers extensive technical expertise in design, testing and various process technologies. GKN Sinter Metals offers a full range of more than 10,000 complex shape, high strength products for automotive, industrial and consumer markets worldwide. The company's global footprint spans more than 13 countries across five continents. GKN Sinter Metals is in close proximity to its customers with more than 30 global locations and approximately 6,500 employees.
About the GKN Group
GKN plc is a global engineering business serving mainly the automotive, aerospace and land systems markets. It has operations in more than 35 countries, around 44,000 employees in subsidiaries and joint ventures and had sales of $9.5 billion in the year to 31 December 2011. GKN plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange (LSE: GKN).
SOURCE GKN
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