It looks as though the DTR Tazewell plant will be searching for 60 or more new employees within the next couple of years. Facility officials announced this week plans to invest some $9 million to expand the plant by 66,300 square feet.
U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander, who attended the official groundbreaking, said the decision to expand the facility is proof that Tennessee is “the right place for the auto industry.”
One-third of the state’s manufacturing jobs, he said, are automobile related ones.
“That would not be possible without the more than 900 suppliers that provide not just the parts for cars, but good jobs for Tennesseans,” said Alexander.
According to the Tennessee Department of Economic Development, (TDED), those 900 plus suppliers are currently doing business inside 80 of the 95 counties within the state. Last year, ‘Business Facilities’ ranked Tennessee number one for automotive manufacturing strength for the fifth time in six years.
Rubber products manufactured by DTR employees wind up on the cars, trucks and other motor vehicles mass-produced by Nissan, Lexus, Ford, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Chrysler, Jeep and others.
“Today’s announcement is a credit and a compliment to the hard work and success of DTR’s Tennessee employees,” said Alexander who, during his stint as governor, is credited for his part in bringing the first Nissan plant to Tennessee.
With a November 2016 construction deadline, it is estimated the expansion will jump the employee count to nearly 800 workers by the end of 2017. The project was planned to allow DTR to increase its production of anti-vibration and sound insulation polyurethane products for the North American auto industry.
This is the fourth expansion the Tazewell plant has undergone since striking the gears to the machines for the first time in January 2003. Fifty employees were hired to manufacture the products during its first incarnation.
DTR Tennessee, Inc. is a subsidiary of the Japan-based Sumitomo Riko Rubber Industries and is ranked the third largest employee in Claiborne County.
Sumitomo Riko, who operates in 23 countries, also supplies IT, electronics, industrial and construction products.
The auto industry giant also employs over 900 workers at its nearby Greeneville manufacturing facility.
Reach Jan Runions at 423-254-5588 or on Twitter @scribeCP.
