GF to enter the promising North American automotive market
GF Automotive, a division of GF, announces a 50/50 joint venture with the world leading machining specialist Linamar Corp., Guelph (Ontario, Canada). Together, GF and Linamar Corp. will invest in a new high pressure light metal die casting plant in the Southeast of the US. Under GF’s industrial lead, GF Linamar LLC will start operations in 2017 with the local production of light metal components for a European car manufacturer. Both parties will also cooperate in Asia and in Europe in order to meet their respective customers demand for integrated casting solutions.
The joint venture plans to produce lightweight powertrain and structural components, drawing from the expertise of both partners. Start of production is planned for 2017. The overall investment over the next five years will amount to approx. USD 100 million. Closing of the transaction is anticipated for the beginning of September 2015.
GF Automotive is today present in Europe and in China, two global key automotive markets. With this partnership, GF Automotive and Linamar will be in a position to serve and expand with their customers in the top three automotive markets of the world.
“GF and Linamar complement each other very well combining leading expertise in casting respectively in machining”, says Yves Serra, CEO of GF. “Our cooperation allows both partners to offer integrated solutions to their customers and for GF Automotive to expand its activities in the promising North American market.”
Linda Hasenfratz, CEO of Linamar Corp., states: ”Both companies share similar cultures in manufacturing excellence and sustained shareholder value. We look forward to the combination of our technical capabilities in order to serve our global customers even better.”
Linamar Corp. was founded in 1966 by the Hasenfratz family and is listed at the Toronto Stock Exchange. With its 48 worldwide manufacturing facilities and a workforce of 19 500 employees the company generated sales of CHF 3.1 billion (CAD 4.2 billion) in 2014. Its reputation is built upon its expertise in precision machining of metallic powertrain products for the automotive industry. Linamar's products are also found in a wide range of global industries from aerial work platforms to agricultural products.
GF Automotive is one of the leading automotive suppliers worldwide and specializes in lightweight solutions for the automotive industry. It produces more than 600 000 tons of iron, aluminum and magnesium components at nine production plants in Germany, Austria and China. With 4 898 employees, GF Automotive generated sales of about CHF 1.4 billion in 2014.
GF comprises three divisions GF Piping Systems, GF Automotive, and GF Machining Solutions. Founded in 1802, the Corporation is headquartered in Switzerland and is present in 31 countries, with 126 companies, 47 of them production facilities. Its approximately 14 100 employees generated sales of CHF 3.80 billion in 2014. GF is the preferred partner of its customers for the safe transport of liquids and gases, lightweight casting components in vehicles, and high-precision manufacturing technologies.
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