Headquartered in South Korea, ILJIN, one of the leading manufacturers of automotive and industrial bearings and chassis components, is marking its foray into the aluminium forging market, enhancing its production capabilities. The announcement was made by Governor Kay Ivey, 54th governor of Alabama. The company is set to invest nearly $100 million for the new forging operation in Auburn, Alabama.
"By combining our in-house forging capabilities with world-class technology, we'll be able to produce the highest quality and lowest cost aluminium forgings for our customers," said John Dix, president of ILJIN USA.
ILJIN plans to set up its new operation in an existing Auburn Technology Park North facility, where it will create around 160 jobs. The raw aluminium forgings produced at the Auburn site will be transported to ILJIN's Greer, South Carolina facility for final processing. The company states that the shift to aluminium will enable the production of stronger, lighter components, leading to safer, more reliable, and fuel-efficient vehicles.
ILJIN, known for supplying control arms, stabiliser links, ball joints, and other components to major automakers, has traditionally utilised steel forging in its processes. With the new Auburn facility, ILJIN will boost its capacity for U.S.-made products and begin manufacturing forged aluminium control arms for several U.S. automotive clients.
"ILJIN's decision to locate its next facility in Auburn is great news for Alabama," said Governor Kay Ivey. "Alabama is already the fifth largest vehicle producer in the U.S., and it's wonderful to see how we are continuing to expand and deepen our automotive supplier base, creating lasting jobs throughout Alabama."
Ron Anders, mayor of Auburn, noted, "We're extremely grateful for the trust and investment by ILJIN in our community and the support of and partnership with the state of Alabama. We will continue to support and partner with ILJIN to ensure the company's success here in Auburn. Thanks to our close collaboration with Auburn University and Southern Union State Community College, I am confident that ILJIN will find the talent it needs to run a sophisticated operation in our community."
Founded in 1973, ILJIN is a global leader in manufacturing bearings and chassis components for the rail, automotive, and industrial sectors. With a commitment to top-tier quality and cost efficiency, ILJIN has become the world’s largest producer of GEN3 wheel bearings.
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