Business Facilities - November 2007 - (Page 42)

CORPORATE MOVES Alabama More Growth for HYUNDAI European Aircraft to be Engineered in Alabama yundai Motor Corp., which opened its first U.S. manufacturing plant in eohan Auto USA and Seohan Alabama back in 2002, announced earlier in 2007 that it will construct Driveshaft USA announced a second engine plant at its Montgomery production facility, creating 522 earlier in 2007 that they will new jobs. The new engine plant will supply both the existing Hyundai operlocate in Auburn, AL. Seohan ation and the new Kia plant being built in makes axle assemblies for the nearby West Point, GA. Hyundai is investing Montgomery, AL Hyundai plant. approximately $270 million to construct the The companies will jointly 349,440-square-foot building, which will occupy a 250,000-square-foot manufacture 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engines. The building in Auburn’s Industrial expansion also includes a 533,000-square-foot Park, and will create a total of up consolidation center and a container yard. to 170 new jobs and a combined “While the exact number of suppliers has investment of $33 million after not been determined,” says Joo Soo Ahn, production begins this year. Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama president and CEO, “initial estimates are that it could require as many as four or five new Tier 1 suppliers who would invest another $125 million in capital and hire another 400 employees in the River Region.” The first engines from the new overnor Bob Riley announced in July that a rail car manufacturer, facility are scheduled to be mass proNational Alabama Corporation, will build a new manufacturing facilduced by September 2008. ity in Colbert County, AL that is expected to employ 1,800 workers. This makes it the second largest (by number of jobs to be created) corporate expansion project of 2007 in Alabama, trailing only the ThyssenKrupp deal announced in May. The overall value of the company’s investment is estimated to be roughly $350 million. irbus opened its new aircraft engi“We undertook a comprehensive assessment to determine the best posneering center in Mobile, AL, in sible North American site,” says National Alabama Corporation chair2007. The high-tech center located man and CEO Gregory Aziz. “As part of this process, our people worked in the Brookley Field Industrial closely with several jurisdictions. I cannot say enough about the support Complex employs 32 aerospace engiwe received during this rigorous process by all participants. Ultimately, neers, each of whom is assigned to we had to make a very difficult decision.” interior design work on Airbus’ new National Alabama Corporation is a newly formed subsidiary of National A350-XWB commercial jet. The Industries Inc., the parent company of National Steel Car Limited. company plans to expand to employ National Steel Car, based in the Canadian city of Hamilton, ON, is curat least 150 workers by late next year. rently the largest single site manu“Mobile can and will play a role in facturing facility for freight railway the global aviation business,” says cars in North America, capable of Allan McArtor, chairman of Airbus producing 15,000 new freight railNorth America. road cars per year. The combined The center could become part of a operations of National Steel Car much larger complex if EADS wins a and National Alabama will increase U.S. Air Force contract to build a National’s product offerings to the new fleet of aerial refueling tankers North American market. in 2008. H Driveshafts for Hyundai to Come From Auburn S A Second Mega-Project for 2007 G A 42 NOVEMBER 2007 PHOTO CREDITS: ALABAMA DEVELOPMENT OFFICE/GOVERNOR’S OFFICE

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Business Facilities - November 2007 Contents First Words Snapshots Metro Spotlight: Indianapolis Region, Indiana Georgia's Pursuit of Industry Extreme Technology Sites A Tennessee Trifecta A Watershed Moment for Philly Metro Spotlight: Mexico-Texas Border Region High Tech and Aerospace Heat up in Arizona Meeting the Information Technology Challenge IEDC Announces 2007 Winners Corporate Moves: Alabama Northeast Arkansas Scores Major Investments Corporate Moves: Virginia Metro Spotlight: Martinsville-Henry County, VA Renewable Michigan Advertiser Index Ask the Expert

Business Facilities - November 2007

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