ARC Automotive to add 115 jobs

Source: The Knoxville News-Sentinel, Tenn.儲存倉Sept. 04--Auto parts manufacturer ARC Automotive Inc. announced Wednesday that it plans a $3 million expansion of its Knoxville operation, adding 115 new jobs.The Knoxville-based company said it has seen growing demand in the domestic and international automobile markets and is expanding to meet that need. Besides Knoxville, the company has facilities in Japan, Korea, China and Mexico."ARC chose Knoxville for the expansion due in large part to its familiarity with the area labor market and continued dedication and hard work of its employees," ARC Vice President of Human Resources Gabe Bucca said in a statement.The Knoxville plant, located at 1611 Third Creek Road, is expected to fill most of the 115 positions within the first year of expansion. The plant specializes in research, engineering, prototype development and production.ARC, which has been in Knoxville more than 20 years, makes inflator products for air bag equipment, including driver, passenger, side and curtain inflaters.Expanding the regional automotive sector is a focus of the Innovation Valley initiative, said Rhonda Rice, executive vice president of the Knoxville Chamber. "And ARC's expansion validates our workforce, location and business climate," she said.Gov. Bill Haslam and Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bill Hagerty touted the success of the state's automotive industry in a news release announcing the expansion."Continued investment by companies 迷你倉價錢ike ARC Automotive plays a big part in the momentum and success of Tennessee's automotive industry," Haslam said.Hagerty praised ARC and other companies for bringing manufacturing jobs back to the U.S. from overseas markets.Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero and Knox County Mayor Tim Burchett also welcomed the announcement.ARC's expansion plans represent a sharp turnaround from a few years ago. ARC went through three rounds of layoffs in 2007-2008 as part of a global cost restructuring prompted by the Great Recession and plunging auto sales.ARC's announcement is the latest of several auto industry-related expansions announced in East Tennessee this year. In January, DENSO said it would invest $50 million in its Athens operation to produce gasoline direct-injection system components. More than 130 jobs are planned. The company is also expanding its Maryville operations as part of the effort.Last week, Alcoa Inc. broke ground on a $275 million expansion of its Blount County facilities to produce automotive aluminum sheet. The expansion is expected to produce 200 permanent jobs and 400 construction jobs.For the fourth consecutive year, Business Facilities magazine has named Tennessee the top state for automotive manufacturing strength.The state is home to more than 900 auto-related companies.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 the Knoxville News-Sentinel (Knoxville, Tenn.) Visit the Knoxville News-Sentinel (Knoxville, Tenn.) at .knoxnews.com Distributed by MCT Information Services迷你倉