THK Announces Expansion of Manufacturing Plant In Hebron, Ohio
The need for expansion is due, in part, to increased business in the .American market and decreased imports from Japan. "There's a need to localize it and bring manufacturing to the market its products are to be sold at," asserted Mikio Matsui, president of THK Manufacturing of America, Inc. "The objective is to get as much localization as possible here to reduce imports."
THK's Hebron plant, their first production facility in the United States, manufactures Linear Motion Guides (LM Systems) and Link Balls. THK Linear Motion Guides are precise positioning components with re-circulating ball linear motion guide technology that uses a block and precision ground rail design. THK LM Systems offer many application-specific benefits, including: increased speed and accuracy of motion, high rigidity, decreased noise levels, long-term maintenance-free operation, and reduced sources of contamination. A wide variety of industries are currently taking advantage of the benefits of THK's LM Systems, including: machine tool, semiconductor, medical, packaging, automotive and robotics. THK's Link Balls consist of a high-accuracy, high-quality steel ball with a welded shank assembled to a die cast socket holder. They are used in suspension, steering, and transmission control assemblies for automobiles and other forms of transportation.
"Progress in this facility has gone along very smoothly and expansion is occurring on schedule," said Akihiro Teramachi, chief executive officer and president of THK Co. Ltd.
The Ohio based plant offers a variety of LM Guide types and sizes. Currently, 50% of the company's product line for North America is manufactured in the Hebron plant, but within three years the plant is estimated to produce approximately 80% of the product line.
THK also has seven regional sales offices in North America located in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New Jersey, San Francisco, and Toronto to further their commitment to customer service. Each has a stocking warehouse, application engineers and experienced customer service representatives to meet customers' needs.
THK America, Inc., 200 E. Commerce Drive, Schaumburg, IL 60173. Tel: 847-310-1111; Fax: 847-310-1182.