9/14/2015 12:16:00 AM
HEADLINES
Dokka Fasteners Inc. is closing it’s four-year-old Michigan plant due to uncertainty in the wind energy industry, CEO Louis Vasilevski announced.
Norway-based Dokka began U.S. production in late 2011 and will close the plant north of Detroit and will cease operations by the end of 2015. Dokka will continue production in Norway.
The decision to close “was difficult after just committing to build the state-of-the-art facility in 2010,” according to a management statement. “Although the plant start-up went well, the business was subject to uncertainty do to the state of the wind industry in the United States. The landscape for wind energy is volatile based on a lack of a committed U.S. renewable energy policy, gridlock of government in Washington, and the uncertainty of the production tax credit.”
The closing comes after Dokka/Würth closed its Cardinal Fastener facility in Ohio at the beginning of 2015 and moved production to Michigan.
Dokka’s statement also noted that “inexpensive fossil fuels continue to pose a challenge to the growth of renewable energy.”
The strong U.S. dollar “has made competing against European competitors and low-priced Asian imports increasingly difficult,” Dokka added.
Dokka’s plant in Norway “will continue to support customers demanding high quality fasteners used in extreme applications.”
The company traces its history to the 1875 founding of Kampen.
In 1985 the company began supplying the wind industry and in 1987 established the Dokka name. In 1995 Dokka was acquired by Arvid Nilsson Group of Denmark.
Dokka was acquired by the Würth Industry GmbH in 2008 and in 2011 Würth acquired Cardinal Fasteners of Ohio to establish Dokka and Cardinal as the Würth Hot Forming Group the next year.
The Dokka/Würth operations have been headed by managing director Vasilevski, Würth Group executive vice president Marc Strandquist and vice president of sales Jim Witucki.
The U.S. plant has been at 2800 Superior Crt, Auburn Hills, MI 48326. Tel: 248 724-2060 Email: sales@dokkafasteners.us Web: DokkaFasteners.us
For more background on Dokka and Cardinal, go to the Fastener History section of GlobalFastenerNews.com.
2015 FIN – Würth Closing Cardinal Fastener in Ohio; Moving Production to Dokka in Michigan
Michigan incentives top Rockford to win plant.
2012 FIN – Dokka Fasteners Installing Quench Furnace at New U.S. Plant
The furnace will be used to produce hot-formed steel fasteners for the wind turbine industry
2011 FIN – Würth Buys Cardinal Fastener
Bankruptcy judge expedites agreement so deal can close quickly, allowing Cardinal Fastener to restock and continue operating….
2010 FIN – Würth Unveils ‘First’ U.S. Robotic Fastener Forming Facility
The $20 million robotic hot forming manufacturing facility will replicate the high-tech process found in the facility of Dokka Norway….
2010 FIN – Norway’s Dokka Building Plant in Michigan
WIFR attributes decision to Worker’s Comp and property taxes….
2009 FIN – Wind Turbine Fasteners Create Draw for Industry’s First Presidential Plant Tour
President-elect Obama visits Cardinal Fastener enroute to inauguration….
1988 FIN – Cardinal Acquires Stelfast Production Equipment
Grabner: Ohio manufacturer expanding 40,000 sq ft to increase fastener production volume 50%….
1983 FIN – Grabner Acquires Cardinal
Cardinal Fastener & Specialty Co. Inc, is the new name for the former Cardinal Threading Division, Bedford Heights, Ohio.
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