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ILJIN to Build Aluminum Forging Operation in Alabama

aluminum control arm© by Wikimedia Commons

ILJIN, a leading automotive and industrial bearings and chassis manufacturer, is investing nearly $100 million in a new forging operation in Auburn, Alabama — expanding its capabilities into the aluminum forging market for the first time.

Headquartered in South Korea, ILJIN supplies control arms, stabilizer links, ball joints and other components to major auto manufacturers. The company has long used steel forging in its manufacturing processes. The new Auburn facility will further increase its capacity of U.S.-made products and will expand the company’s capabilities, allowing it to begin producing forged aluminum control arms for several U.S. automotive customers.

According to the company, this transition to aluminum will produce stronger and lighter components that result in safer, more reliable and more fuel-efficient vehicles. “By combining our in-house forging capabilities with world-class technology, we’ll be able to produce the highest quality and lowest cost aluminum forgings for our customers,” said John Dix, president of ILJIN USA.

ILJIN will establish its new operation in an existing building in Auburn Technology Park North, where it will employ about 160 people. The raw forgings produced in Auburn will be sent to ILJIN’s facility in Greer, South Carolina, for final processing.

Lee Dong Seob, chairman of ILJIN said the company has benefitted from keeping its production in the Southeast U.S. He noted,  “We have found the U.S., and in particular the state of Alabama, to be the most productive, the most competitive and the highest yielding of all our recent investments.”

Dongsoo Um, president of ILJIN South Carolina, added, “Auburn has proven itself to be the ideal location of our company’s expansion here in America. Thanks to the City of Auburn’s help, we were able to meet the tight deadlines for this project and will be able to provide our customers with the products they need.”

Representatives from local government offered their support for the project. “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.”

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