Two of the largest American manufacturers of automotive components have recently announced plans to invest in the expansion of their facilities. ITT Corporation will expand a Chinese braking technology plant and WABCO Holdings is relocating its South Carolina facility to a new, larger building nearby.
ITT's plant is located in the eastern Chinese city of Wuxi. The announced expansion will require a $20 million investment, bringing the total stake in that facility to nearly $50 million over the past three years. The Wuxi plant is dedicated to the company's Motion Technologies division, which develops new braking and friction advancements which are used in passenger cars throughout the world.
"This is an investment for the future that reflects our strategy to further support our global and local original equipment manufacturers and brake manufacturers with innovative and high-quality products that meet the expectations of an increasingly sophisticated customer base," said division president Luca Savi.
For its part, WABCO has had a plant in South Carolina since 1996, and will now invest $17 million to relocate to a new facility in North Charleston for the manufacture of air compressors and other braking components. The company expects to add more than 50 jobs to its current workforce, which totals approximately 175, by the end of next year. The state's council for economic development is contributing a $250,000 grant to Dorchester County.
Greening's testing equipment is used by leading manufacturers worldwide to determine the efficiency of brakes, components and friction materials. Through our international partners, we serve the Asian and European markets as well as North America.