5/3/2010
NEWS BRIEFS
Acument Building New Fastener Plant in South America
Acument’s new fastener plant in Brazil
Michael Dorah
Acument Global Technologies is building a new fastener manufacturing and distribution facility in Brazil about an hour north of Sao Paulo.
“The new plant helps solidify and strengthen our market leadership position in the country’s fastener market, supports our growth and diversification in the region, as will enable us to respond to our customers’ investments regionally,” corporate communications director Tim Weir told GlobalFastenerNews.com.
Acument is in the final stages of constructing the new 280,000 sq ft facility in Atibaia. Employing 300 workers, the plant will enable Acument to improve its standards of manufacturing productivity in Brazil, where it is a fastener supplier to the country’s automotive assembly plants and Tier supplier component factories.
“We will be gradually consolidating production from our nearly 60-year-old Sao Paulo facility (the original MAPRI business plant established in 1943), which we will close some time in 2011 after the Atibaia plant is running smoothly,” Weir explained.
Acument will relocate its South America business unit headquarters to Atibaia from Sao Paulo. The company expects many current employees in Sao Paulo will transition to the new plant.
“Our automotive customers have been very supportive of our decision to upgrade our production capabilities in the region,” Weir noted. “We are working very closely with them to affect a stable and manageable transition of production.”
Leadership of its South America business unit is changing as well, with Michael Dorah named vice president and GM. He replaces Marcello Marchiano, who elected to leave Acument after six years.
Dorah previously was Acument’s Vice President of Operations and GM of the company’s Aerospace unit, which is now being managed by Peter Venter, who also continues to serve as vice president and GM of Acument North America.
Dorah joined Acument in June 2008 as vice president, LEAN Manufacturing Systems and Planning, to help the company establish consistent LEAN practices and processes across its operations. Prior to Acument, he spent a 13-year career at American Axle & Manufacturing (AAM) with leadership roles in manufacturing and supply chain.
“We are confident that Michael’s leadership abilities and deep understanding of operational issues make him the optimal choice to lead our South America business,” said CEO Rick Dauch. “He will direct Acument South America’s launch of new fastener manufacturing capacity in Atibaia, Brazil, which will substantially strengthen our competitive position in the region.”
Acument is also planning additional investments to upgrade manufacturing capacity and capability at its Contagem operation. Today the company operates production centers in São Paulo and Contagem, and a distribution center in Camaçari.
Troy, MI-based Acument provides mechanical and engineered fastening systems. ©2010 GlobalFastenerNews.com
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