Akebono Brake Corporation Announces New Facility in Lexington County
January 17, 2010
Investment expected to create 283 new jobs
COLUMBIA, SC – January 15, 2010 – The South Carolina Department of Commerce, Lexington County and the Central SC Alliance today announced that Akebono Brake Corporation will locate its new facility in Lexington County. The $35.6 million investment is expected to generate 283 new jobs over the next five years.
Opening this new facility is exciting for us. It will allow us to meet growing customer demand and for our products and better position us as the automotive market picks back up. Lexington County will be an excellent fit for our company, providing us with an excellent business climate. We look forward to beginning operations at our new plant in South Carolina and appreciate all the support from state and local officials, said Brandon Kessinger, director of Legal Affairs for Akebono.
Akebono recently purchased Bosch Chassis Systems Columbia and will locate its new operations in that facility in West Columbia. The company expects to install equipment in the building and hopes to have the plant completely online by the end of 2010.
South Carolina’s automotive sector continues to bring opportunities to our state, and this announcement is just the latest example as this facility will create hundreds of new well-paying job opportunities for Midlands’ residents. Akebono Brake is a world-class company and a leading maker of brakes and brake parts for a number of automotive companies. The company’s decision to invest in South Carolina is a positive reflection of our state’s business-friendly climate and skilled workforce, said Joe Taylor, Secretary of Commerce. We welcome Akebono Brake to Lexington and wish them much success in their endeavors here.
Lexington County earnestly welcomes Akebono, a company whose 75 years of expertise and reputation for success, quality and exceptional performance will greatly benefit our business community. Akebono’s investment will allow them to prosper based on the facility’s existing capacity and enable them to take advantage of Lexington County’s outstanding workforce. We are extremely pleased that they will be providing employment opportunities for 283 people, said Lexington County Council Chairman Jim Kinard.
Central SC Alliance Chairman Jim Apple stated, On behalf of the Central SC Alliance, I would like to extend a warm welcome to Akebono Brake Corporation. Over the years, we have worked closely with the plant leadership team and general manager David Wheeler in terms of future growth and development of the site. We recognize the importance of maintaining a close working relationship with existing industry. The South Carolina Department of Commerce and Lexington County have been important partners through the PBR Automotive, Bosch and now Akebono transactions. We are very excited by the news of additional investment and new job creation.
Akebono Brake has already started hiring for the positions. Anyone interested in opportunities with the company should contact TRC Staffing at 803-551-5620, Carolina Personnel at 803-750-0077 or the Midlands Workforce Center in Lexington at 803-359-6131.
About Akebono Brake Corporation
Akebono Brake Corporation is a leader in advanced brake and friction material development and production, with a focus on noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) analysis and control. The Akebono Group operates technical/R&D centers in Japan, the United States and France, with 30 wholly owned or affiliated manufacturing facilities worldwide. Akebono launched U.S. brake sales and production operations in 1980. Worldwide, Akebono employs 6,800 people, with 2,000 in North America. For more information, visit www.akebonobrakes.com.
About S.C. Department of Commerce
The S.C. Department of Commerce works closely with economic development professionals throughout the state to recruit new jobs and investments and help existing businesses grow. Commerce has been recognized for its success in the areas of job creation and economic impact by Area Development and Business Facilities magazines. The S.C. Department of Commerce was one of 10 state economic development organizations to receive Area Development’s Silver Shovel Award in 2009 and Commerce received the 2009 Deal of the Year award from Business Facilities magazine. Commerce received the top prize for Boeing’s selection of North Charleston for the company’s second final assembly plant for the 787 Dreamliner program. In addition to job and investment recruitment, the agency provides a range of business support services, offers grants for community development and infrastructure improvements, and provides tools to enhance workforce skills. For more information, visit www.SCcommerce.com.
