Page 20 - MetalForming June 2015
P. 20
The largest of three new press lines at Hatch Stamping Co.’s new plant in Portland, TN, is anchored by a 1000-ton Nidec Minster press and fully integrated feed system. This line, and the others, allow Hatch Stamping to fulfill current work for its Southeast U.S. customers while providing flexibility to accept a range of new jobs.
Hatch Sees Opportunity
in the Volunteer State
Michigan-based Hatch Stamping Co. has just arrived on the Tennessee-Kentucky border. With three new press lines and additional fabrication and assembly equipment on the way, the 120,000-sq.-ft. plant allows the company to duplicate its current capabilities in close proximity to automotive customers in the Southeast.
The U.S. automotive base has steadily migrated southward. As OEMs and top tier providers have inundated the Southeast, suppliers in the traditional Midwest vehicle strong- hold have had to come to grips with lengthening supply chains, and the need to stay engaged and immediate- ly available to now-distant customers.
“We stay very close to industry trends as to where our customers are located and where the work is flowing, not only regionally and throughout North America, but globally,” explains Dan Craig, Hatch Stamping president and chief operating officer. The com- pany is predominately dedicated to the automotive industry, serving pri- marily Tier One and Two customers and OEMs. “Any new assembly or OEM plants in North America, excluding
Mexico,” he continues, “are being built in the Southeast United States. Under- standing that migration, we felt that if we had to redeploy assets, the South- east would be the logical place.”
In exploring its options, Hatch Stamping conducted a six-month study of customer and OEM locations in the region as well as areas with good talent pools.
“We put everything together,” says Craig, “and Portland, TN, fit the criteria for what we needed to be successful in the Southeast.”
Press Lines Fully Outfitted, Selected for Current
and Future Work
This past April, after eight months of toil adding infrastructure, access and beefed-up utility service, a new
www.metalformingmagazine.com
18
BY LOUIS A. KREN, SENIOR EDITOR MetalForming/June 2015