DETROIT - Atoma Interior Systems, a unit of Markham, Ontario-based Magna International Inc., announced May 17 it will break ground this summer for a new interior components plant in Brighton, Mich., a project representing an investment of more than $30 million. The plant, which Atoma said will employ 300, is scheduled to be finished in January. In Brighton, the supplier also will locate a small research and development office, focusing on interior door panels and instrument panels.
The new plant will do PVC slush mold ing and urethane foam-in-place for instrument panels and door panels as well as some vacuum forming.
Atoma said the facility will handle new business from its automotive customers but declined to discuss specifics.
``We have been able to pick up a number of awards from various customers,'' said Kevin Alder, vice president of sales and marketing for Atoma Interior Systems.
He said the Brighton plant will be designed to provide modular components, such as complete instrument panels, and will be able to ship these components in sequence with local assembly operations.Atoma, as part of the diversified Magna group, is able to source many of the parts needed for finished parts from within the firm. In interior systems, for example, Atoma can provide molded plastic parts, seats, carpet, electrical systems, mirror assemblies and testing services.
Atoma Interior Systems is projecting sales of C$1.2 billion (US$936 million) in fiscal 1996, ending in August. In 1995, Magna International had sales of C$4.5 billion (US$3.28 billion).
