Gates to add plant in Turkey

Denver, Colorado -- Gates Corp. plans to build a factory in Turkey to produce oil pumps and tensioners, which will expand the firm's automotive parts operation in Europe.

The wholly owned subsidiary of London-based Tomkins PLC expects to break ground on the plant in the fourth quarter and estimated that the facility should be operational by 2012. Plans presently call for a work force of about 100 at the site.

“It's a dynamic geographic region that has a skilled work force as well as a strong supply base,” Gates President John Bohenick said in a statement. He said that expansion into Europe allows the company to meet the product and service needs of a sizable European automotive market.

Turkey is growing as a significant market for the company's customers in Europe, he said, and they need reliable supplier partners such as Gates, he said.

Gordon Hensley has been named director of Powertrain-Europe and will assume responsibility for the plant.

In addition, the facility will give the industrial and automotive product manufacturer a strategic location from which to further grow markets in the West, East and Middle East along with a large, entrepreneurial work force, the company said.

Gates is part of the Industrial & Automotive Group of Tomkins, with sales of about $5.8 billion in 2007.

From Rubber & Plastics News (A Crain publication)