A global automotive supplier recently announced an expansion of its operations at its Kamtek facility in Birmingham, Alabama.
Magna International reported that its new facility will feature a manufacturing process–high-pressure aluminum casting–that further enables the supplier to provide vehicle lightweighting and part-reduction solutions for customers. The new capabilities improve upon traditional steel multi-piece welded assemblies, which can take upwards of 12 stampings to produce one structural component. High-pressure aluminum casting allows production of full structures in one piece, reducing vehicle mass without compromising performance, structural integrity or safety.
Magna invested approximately $60 million to add the 150,000-square-foot facility. The Kamtek facility employs approximately 850 people and produces structural components for various customers including Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen and Nissan. The new facility will initially produce lightweight aluminum front shock towers for a major global automaker, with additional customers and programs expected in the future. At full capacity, the expansion has the potential to generate more than 100 jobs.
