AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — TI Automotive inaugurated its brand-new fuel tank systems production facility in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, yesterday, where it will produce low-emission, plastic fuel tanks, pumps and modules for the Nissan Micra, Note and Versa vehicles. It is the company’s sixth manufacturing location and first fuel tank production facility in Mexico.
"Our strategy is to locate our production facilities close to our customers, which enables us to provide advanced, high-quality fluid storage, carrying and delivery technology everywhere in the world," said Bill Kozyra, chairman, CEO and president of TI Automotive. "With the high concentration of vehicle manufacturing in Mexico and the facility’s central location, we are capable of producing fuel tank systems for every automaker in the country."
TI Automotive currently has 24 fuel tank manufacturing and 11 pump and module systems production facilities worldwide. The company says its vertically integrated structure allows it to produce all elements of the fuel system in addition to the tank, including the pump, fuel module, filler pipe, vapor and fluid lines, level sensors and system electronics.
Within the 83,500-square-foot San Luis Potosi facility, TI Automotive has established a self-contained production line to produce complete tank systems. Fuel pumps and modules will be produced in a 3,200-square-foot clean room and welded into the fuel tank shells shortly after the blow-molding process.
Currently, the San Luis Potosi facility has 20 employees and one assembly line, but it has capacity for three lines and 200 employees at full production. Full-scale production on the first program is expected by May 2011. TI Automotive has planned for future zero-emissions fuel tank production, as well.
