6/18/2015 11:56:00 AM
NEWS BRIEFS
Rayconnect Expands Michigan Plant
Local civic and government leaders participated in the dedication ceremony with ARaymond Network CEO Antoine Raymond for a $12 million expansion of the Rayconnect Inc. plant in southeastern Michigan. The facility manufactures engineered injection-molded fasteners for the automotive industry.
Rayconnect is part of the ARaymond Network of companies which is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year (see FIN, June 9, 2015).
The Rochester Hills plant expansion adds 30,000 sq ft of manufacturing and office space to the 75,000-sq ft and allows three, eight-hour shifts, five days a week. Web: rayconnect.com
CEO Raymond said the expansion will add 60 employees over the next two years, including skilled production technicians to operate new machinery. The plant now has 114 employees.
The plant produces fittings for fluid-handling systems for the automotive, heavy truck, recreational, off-road vehicle and industrial markets. The fittings are used for fuel lines, fuel vapor lines, coolant hoses, oil hoses and other fluid applications.
The expansion increases injection molding machine capacity from 26 to 46 and adds room for six additional assembly machines for a total of 18. The company is adding injection-molding tools and other auxiliary equipment to produce assembly components.
“ARaymond Quick Connector products are used by virtually every automotive OEM in the world,” said business development VP Craig Cheney. “Our direct customer base includes Tier II and Tier III automotive and heavy-truck suppliers.”
Operations manager Gary Warren noted that when the plant opened six years ago it achieved certification from the U.S. Green Building Council for Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED Gold). The facility sits on 10 acres overlooking a lake and a natural habitat area.
“Our objective is to be a socially and environmentally responsible corporate citizen,” Warren said. “We are connected to Oakland University to further support learning and help in the development of new talent. We also believe in employee empowerment at all levels throughout the organization – empowerment that clearly contributes to the growth and success of our operations.”
ARaymond’s original U.S. manufacturing facility in the United States opened in 1986 in the Rochester Hills.
ARaymond provides metal processing, plastic injection molding, adhesives plus metal and plastic parts for the automotive and heavy truck industries, industrial, energy, agriculture and medical life sciences. Headquartered in Grenoble, France, ARaymond has 5,500 employees in 25 countries at 25 production sites and 11 design offices. Global sales topped $1 billion last year. Web: araymond.com
In North America, Rayconnect manufactures fluid connectors and A. Raymond Tinnerman manufactures clips, fasteners and connectors.
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