Published: August 08, 2007 06:22 pm            

Cullman business expansion to create 150 jobs

Topre America Corporation has announced a $34 million expansion of its current facility in Cullman and is expected to bring 150 new jobs to the area.

The company stamps automobile parts from high tension steel sheets, which have greater strength than ordinary steel sheets, according to its Web site. As car manufacturers have demanded lighter, stronger cars, Topre has worked to fill that niche.

Horishi Chiba, president of Topre America, said the expansion will support the new Toyota plant being built in Tupelo, Miss. It is Toyota’s eighth plant in the United States, and Topre is the first supplier named for the plant.

The expansion will also help supply the growing automotive market in the southeast, particularly in the production of the Honda Odyssey in Lincoln and the Honda Titan in Canton, Miss.

Topre also makes auto parts for Nissan. In August 2006, Nissan recognized Topre as one of its top three suppliers in the U.S. Nissan has about 490 suppliers nationwide.

The new Toyota plant plans to employ up to 50 robots and Nissan is adding up to 20, according to Carl English, general manager of Human Resources at Topre.

Wallace State Community College is attempting to land a robotics training center Gov. Bob Riley is promoting. It has a proven track record in workforce training and robotic training, and its close proximity to the interstate and a variety of manufacturers that use robotics make it a strong contender for the project, said a WSCC spokesperson.

The Topre plant will be increased by 90,400 square feet and will house four new press machines while the warehouse will get an additional 17,800 square feet.

Work will get under way in January, and the addition will be completed in September of 2009. Production of the new parts for the Toyota plant will begin in March 2009.

The company currently employs 426 people. In December, Topre expects that number to increase to 470 people, 490 by April 2008 and 510 in September 2008. One year later in September 2009, that figure will climb to 600 employees.

Mayor Don Green said Topre’s expansion has a secondary effect.

“Topre’s expansion means more jobs and wages for our citizens, but it also means more education dollars that will be generated off of sales and property taxes,” said Mayor Don Green.

This is Topre’s third expansion since its opening in 2004.

Peggy Smith, director of the Cullman Economic Development Agency, assisted Topre in its choice of Cullman for its United States location.

“Topre is one of our most progressive industries,” said Smith. “It has exceeded all its original employment and investment figures, and I would not be surprised to learn that Topre is the fastest-growing automotive supplier in Alabama that located during the same time period.”

Dale Greer, assistant director of the Cullman Economic Development Agency, said, Topre re-evaluated Cullman and chose to expand in the community.

“It’s always a compliment to the community and your workforce when a company chooses to expand here.”

        

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