Japan-based Sunright America Invests $34.7 Million To Expand Its Columbus, Indiana, Production Facility

Sunright America, Inc., a Japanese manufacturer of automotive nuts, bolts and specialty fasteners, will invest $34.7 million to expand its Columbus, Indiana manufacturing center, with plans to create up to 103 jobs by 2016.

The company, a subsidiary of Japan-based Sugiura Seisakusho Co., Ltd., will construct and equip two additional facilities on its 33-acre campus at the Northwest Industrial Park in Columbus, Indiana. The new 176,000 square-foot and 160,000 square-foot facilities, which will stand next to its existing 322,000 square-foot facility, will house additional lines for automotive nuts and bolts. The first production line is expected to be operational in April 2014.

Incorporated in Indiana in 2002, Sunright primarily manufactures weld nuts and flange nuts. The company is a tier 1 supplier to Toyota. Most of all nuts on Toyota cars manufactured in the US, five million pieces per day, are produced at the Columbus facility. With approximately 80 customers including Toyota and Hino, Sunright has more than 130 full-time employees in Indiana and plans to begin hiring additional manufacturing associates, engineers, supervisors and manufacturing managers this fall.

"We selected Indiana because of its robust infrastructure, location of nearby suppliers of surface treatment and materials, and 'Crossroads of America' in the center of our customers' locations," said Toshiaki Takeuchi, executive vice president treasurer and secretary of Sunright. "We supply our products to all of Toyota's North American plants and 80 other customers. Also, we made a decision of this new expansion in Columbus because of very good assistance and cooperation from the state and the city."

"When we witness companies like Sunright repeatedly grow in the Hoosier State, it further validates that Indiana is a state that works for business," said Gov. Mike Pence. "Sunright could have expanded anywhere, but they chose Indiana. With our low taxes, robust infrastructure and pro-growth policies, international manufacturers looking for a supportive business environment find the ingredients for success in Indiana."

This is the third major expansion for Sunright in Indiana since 2005. In 2008, Sunright moved to a 170,000 square-foot manufacturing and distribution facility at its current Columbus location, adding 45 new jobs. The company expanded in Columbus again in 2011, bringing its facility to 322,000 square-feet and creating 100 new jobs.

As an incentive, Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Sunright America, Inc. up to $700,000 in performance-based tax credits based on the company's job creation plans. In addition, the city of Columbus will consider additional property tax abatement at the request of the Columbus Economic Development Board.