Thai Summit to expand Howell plant following new contracts with Ford, Fiat Chrysler
Jennifer Eberbach
New contracts to manufacture parts for two auto industry giants means Thai Summit America Corp. is gearing up to expand its plant in Howell.
While the sheet metal stamping plant has already grown in size over the years to about 1.1 million square feet, a company official says they need more room and more equipment.
"The existing facility was a little too tight," Executive Manager for Sales and Marketing Socrates Souyias said.
The company was awarded several new contracts by Ford Motor Company and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.
The company will manufacture parts for Ford's Ranger and Raptor trucks and Bronco and Explorer SUVs.
Souyias said Thai Summit will make skid plates for the Ranger, Bronco and Explorer and wheelhouses and box sides for the Raptor.
"We currently do a lot of business with Ford and as new models come in we are awarded new business," he said.
Fiat Chrysler awarded the company contracts to make parts for Jeep Grand Wagoneer and Jeep Grand Cherokee SUVs and Ram TRX trucks.
"For the Ram TRX truck, we'll be making the hood, inner and outer, and a couple of box sides. We'll be making roof panels for the Wagoneer and body side inner assemblies for the Grand Cherokee," Souyias said.
He said the company estimates it will cost about $15 million to construct a nearly 50,000-square-foot addition to the plant's south side, build a new approximately 2,000-square-foot scrap shed and purchase new equipment.
"We need a new press line and assembly tooling to do the work," he said. "We have four transfer presses and we're adding a fifth, and the expansion will allow us to add more assembly cells for more room for people to work."
He expects the company will break ground on the expansion in early September and complete it by the end of next May.
"We are hoping to even grow further in the future," Souyias said.
MORE: Livingston County in the era of #MeToo
MORE: Kid Rock's 'Made in Detroit' has new retailer in Howell
MORE: Historic hardware store to become Ace Hardware
The plant, at 1480 McPherson Park Drive, has expanded its footprint and production capabilities several times over the years.
It is one of Livingston County's largest employers with about 800 workers.
It was established in 1985 by Japanese-based auto parts manufacturer Ogihara, which opened it as their first automotive stamping operation in the U.S.
By 2007, Ogihara had grown the plant to about 800,000 square feet. Thailand-based Thai Summit Group bought a controlling stake in Ogihara in 2009.
In 2012, the company, known then as Thai Summit Ogihara, announced a $35 million expansion of the plant into a then-vacant Misa Metal Blanking Corp. building located next to the plant, which was doubled in size.
Thai Summit Group broke ground on a $52.4 million expansion of the original plant building in 2015.
Another 35,000-square-foot expansion that connected the plant's two buildings wrapped up last year.
"Thai Summit has been a great corporate citizen in the City of Howell and the proposed expansion shows their commitment to manufacturing in the City," Community Development Director Tim Schmitt stated in a letter to the city's planning commission. Schmitt recommended the commission approve plans for the company's upcoming expansion in the review letter.
The planning commission approved the plans last month.
Support our journalism, become a digital subscriber and download our app today. Click here for our special offers.
Contact Livingston Daily reporter Jennifer Timar at 517-548-7148 or at jtimar@livingstondaily.com. Follow her on Facebook @Jennifer.Timar99 and Twitter @JenTimar99.