Eberspaecher is expanding its production capacity for commercial vehicle exhaust systems in the U.S. by tripling the size of its facility in Brighton, Mich.
The company officially opened the expanded facility in the presence of the Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder, Eberspaecher management and guests and employees earlier this week.
According to Eberspaecher, the plant is specifically designed for the production of commercial vehicle exhaust systems that meet the strict EPA 2010 emissions standard and serves as a “center of excellence” for the entire commercial vehicle business in North and South America.
The facility, which more than tripled to 340,000 sq.-ft., will produce Eberspaecher’s heavy-duty exhaust after-treatment systems and bring the organization’s three key processes–laser shell manufacturing, converter catalyst canning, and complex automated welding and assembly, as well as the company’s experts in each–under one roof.
Eberspaecher’s after-treatment systems, which intake commercial vehicle exhaust gases and filter them to meet emissions standards, are manufactured and assembled in Michigan and service global heavy-duty commercial vehicle manufacturers throughout North America. This expanded plant and its current employee base of approximately 400 employees is an essential part of the growing Eberspaecher business in the Americas, the company says.
“As an organization that has made a commitment to Michigan and the automotive industry, we are pleased to establish this center of excellence for our commercial vehicle operations in Brighton and use our new resources to strengthen customer care and grow our North American presence,” says Heinrich Baumann, managing partner of the Eberspaecher Group.
He thanked all who participated in the implementation of the project, especially the State of Michigan and the City of Brighton. Furthermore, he stressed the importance of the site for Eberspaecher: “With this expansion we can further strengthen our leading position in the exhaust technology market for commercial and off-road vehicles in the U.S.”
As part of Project Green, an investment and job creation agreement with the State of Michigan, Eberspaecher chose to expand here, providing room for future growth within the after-treatment market for heavy-duty diesel engines, the company says.
“The success this company has achieved is a testament to the benefits of doing business in the automotive capital of the world. We welcome Eberspaecher’s continued investment in Michigan and Michiganders. Their progress is something to be celebrated,” says Gov. Rick Snyder.
Eberspaecher says customers will benefit from the synergies related to having all of Eberspaecher’s commercial vehicle support functions, including engineering, business development and design, adjacent to the manufacturing floor.
“By creating this highly efficient blueprint that brings all of our functions and operations under one roof, we aim to increase the speed and quality of our customer care and strengthen our competitiveness in the automotive marketplace,” adds Greg Sibley, President of Eberspaecher North America.
With the expansion, Eberspaecher also decreased the company’s environmental footprint through incorporating energy-saving measures and efficient technology and systems. The company says these include: air control and venting systems exceeding environmental standards; high-tech glass that allows natural light to enter but not heat the building, resulting in more efficient heat and air conditioning operations; an efficient material storage system that minimizes the use of floor space; and zone-control electrical systems that control usage based on real-time demands.
