JTEKT Corporation doubles size of manufacturing facility in Richland County, South Carolina

COLUMBIA, S.C., July 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- JTEKT Corporation, a leading producer of bearings, automotive steering systems and all-wheel drive couplings, has expanded its Koyo-brand bearing manufacturing facility in Richland County, South Carolina. The 250,000 square-foot expansion will provide JTEKT with needed capacity to manufacture automotive wheel bearing hubs for its growing U.S. customer base and is expected to create 175 new jobs in the next three years. In addition to a $130 million investment by JTEKT, the project was made possible with support from Gov. Nikki Haley, the state of South Carolina, Richland County and the city of Blythewood.

"This investment demonstrates JTEKT's commitment to the North American auto industry as well as the community and citizens of Richland County," said Hiroyuki Kaijima, CEO, JTEKT North America. "We are thankful to Gov. Haley and the government municipalities for their collaboration and dedication to help us make this expansion a reality."

The expansion, the second for this facility, will double its size to more than 500,000 square feet to accommodate the growing business volume of Koyo wheel bearing hubs. Customers are incorporating Koyo's advanced technologies of superior bearing sealing capability, stiffness, weight savings and efficiency.  These benefits result in Koyo hubs being the preferred solution of automakers for next generation vehicles.

Currently the facility, which opened in 1995, employs 225 people. In addition to the Richland County location, JTEKT has eight other bearing manufacturing plants in North America with all North American operations employing more than 5,400 people.

"This expansion is a testament to the quality and dedication of our team and the trust placed in us by our customers," stated Ken Hopkins, COO, JTEKT North America. "We are excited about our current growth in automotive and industrial markets and look forward to continued opportunities where Koyo quality, capabilities and innovation are valued."

About JTEKT
JTEKT is a leading global supplier of automotive steering systems, automotive all-wheel drive couplings, Torsen brand differentials, Koyo brand automotive and industrial bearings and TOYODA machine tools that improve efficiency and performance in a variety of applications. With global headquarters in Nagoya, Japan, JTEKT employs more than 43,000 people in 27 countries and reported sales of $12.6 billion in 2013. In North America, JTEKT employs over 5,400 people with 14 manufacturing facilities and numerous technical centers and distribution facilities across North America. For more information, please visit www.jtekt.co.jp/e/.

SOURCE JTEKT Corporation