Affinia Builds 220,000-SF Auto Filter Plant

SHANDONG, CHINA-Ann Arbor, MI-based Affinia Group Inc. has begun construction of a 220,000-square-foot filter manufacturing facility in Longkou City here. The company is a manufacturer of automotive parts for aftermarket sales. The construction cost of the new plant was not released. 

The company is expanding upon a joint venture with Haimeng, one of the world’s largest drum and rotor manufacturers. Affinia and Zhang Haibo, president of Haimeng, entered into an 85% Affinia-owned joint venture agreement in 2008 for the manufacture of drum and rotor components. This new filtration center will also be 85% owned by Affinia, and will be located near Haimeng’s existing one-million-square-foot manufacturing facilities.

Terry McCormack, president and CEO of Affinia, said the new plant’s primary focus will be on the Asian markets. “Total vehicle sales in China during the past year surpassed those of the United States for the first time,” he said in a statement. The new plant will make filters for light and heavy-duty vehicles.

The new facility will be completed by December, with operations beginning in Q1 2011, and employing about 350 people. Earlier this year, Affinia closed its distribution operations located in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, taking on a $5 million charge that included $2.2 million for early lease termination.