Inteva Products Expands Manufacturing Operations in Korea

TROY, Mich., Dec. 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Inteva KDS is expanding its base of operations and product line capabilities in Korea with the opening of a new manufacturing plant and engineering center in the province of Gyeongbuk, Korea.  The 295,000 square-foot facility includes assembly lines for latches, strikers, door handles, power folding mirror actuators and injection molding lines. The new facility was designed to accommodate planned growth expansion into new product lines of Roof Systems and Motors. The new engineering center features larger labs to provide enhanced capabilities and capacity to accommodate global expansion. The advanced development labs will have additional environmental testing, anechoic chamber, x-ray evaluation, thermal shock and vibration capability.  

"It is my vision that one day Inteva Products will be supporting the Korean market with all of our product lines.  We are recognized globally by our customers as excellent suppliers of Closure Systems, Interior Systems, Motors & Electronics and Roof Systems," said Lon Offenbacher, president and CEO, Inteva Products.  "We have tremendous opportunities on the horizon to grow our business here, and I am confident that through the successes of KDS, we will grow and continue to prosper in The Republic of Korea."

KDS Company, Ltd. (Inteva KDS) is a joint venture partnership between Inteva Products and SL Corp. established in 1995. Prior to the opening of the new larger facility, KDS operated on the campus of SL Corp. Inteva KDS has approximately 400 employees serving customers such as General Motors Korea, Ssangyong Motor, Hyundai, Volkswagen and PSA. A grand opening celebration for the new facility was held on Thursday, December 15.

"KDS has accomplished continuous and consistent growth for the last 16 years," said C.K. Lee, Chairman of SL Corporation during the opening ceremonies. "KDS is at a significant position for remarkable development. I absolutely believe KDS will achieve even greater business excellence at this new plant."

The new KDS manufacturing plant and engineering center is located in 515, Sinjae-ri, Jillyang-eup, Gueongsan-si, Gyeongbuk, Korea. KDS broke ground on the new facility on May 30, 2011.

"Our grand opening celebration is a tribute to the commitment and dedication of every Inteva KDS team member to serve our customers, produce high quality products, and build a reputation in Korea for excellence," said Heun-cheol Park, Vice President of KDS and Managing Director of Inteva Products Korea who oversaw the six month construction project.

In addition to the new manufacturing center, Inteva has a Technical Center in Seoul, Korea.

Inteva's Closure Systems product line encompasses Latch Systems and Door Systems with high value to global customers.  Inteva's Latch Systems portfolio includes door latches, compartment latches, associated strikers, and electronic actuators that offer functionality, robust design, low mass and optimized vehicle packaging at competitive prices. In Door Systems, Inteva designs, engineers and manufactures products that range from window regulators to the latest fully integrated composite door modules. Inteva's door modules provide our customers with a highly engineered product that incorporates multiple features and functions into an integrated unit, resulting in improved reliability and reduced assembly complexity.

About Inteva Products, LLC           

Inteva Products, LLC is a leading global supplier offering value-based innovation and environmentally friendly products that enhance quality and performance. Inteva serves original equipment manufacturers in six key markets: automotive, commercial vehicle, defense, marine, consumer and industrial. Focused on delivering high-value quality, on time and on budget, Inteva has global resources for engineering, manufacturing and customer service for Closure Systems, Interiors Systems, Motors and Electronics, and Roof Systems. Inteva is focused on sustained global growth, providing excellent customer service and being a best place to work for employees. The company is headquartered in Troy, Michigan and employs over 9,000 people in 18 countries. For more information, please visit www.intevaproducts.com.

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Media Contact:

Kimberly A. Welch
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SOURCE Inteva Products, LLC