ABC Group, Inc. Business Report FY ended Dec. 2015
Recent Years
Global Expansion
-The Company announced that it has been focused on global growth over the past three years, with the implementation of new plants in Mexico, the United States (Tennessee) and China and facility expansions in Tennessee, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and Ontario. In 2014, the Company formed joint venture ABCOR Filters in Ontario, Canada working with Italian company, Cornaglia, to design, develop and manufacture filters for air induction systems. (From a press release issued in June 2014)
Business Partnership
-In October 2011, the Company announced the signing of a global alliance agreement with Japan's Inoac Corporation. This agreement will allow both parties to strengthen their respective global capabilities by leveraging their complementary manufacturing footprints, technologies and customer relationships. Both parties will also engage in joint research and development projects to further strengthen their respective product portfolios. (From a press release on October 11, 2011)
-In July 2010, ABC Group Fuel Systems Inc., a US-based subsidiary of the Company, signed a strategic alliance agreement with YAPP Automotive Parts Co. Ltd. in China. The two companies will provide plastic fuel tanks across three continents: North America, Europe and Asia. With headquarters and a R&D center in Yangzhou, Jiangsu Province, YAPP engages in the manufacturing of automotive plastic fuel tanks. YAPP has eight plants in China, and one each in India, Australia and Russia. (From a press release on July 22, 2010)
Acquisition
-In December 2001, the Company completed the acquisition of all the assets of the Hynes blow molding operation of LDI (Lankfer Diversified Industries Incorporated), a supplier of plastic products to the automotive and industrial markets. This facility is located in Grand Rapids, Michigan and operates as Undercar Products Group Inc. The facility is an ISO 9001/QS9000 registered facility and manufactures washer reservoirs, HVAC ducts, bellows and interior components. The Company intends to expand the current product lines and introduce air induction systems into the 115,000-square-foot facility.
Joint Ventures
-In April 2011, the Company announced the signing of a joint venture agreement with Ningbo Inoac Huaxiang Automobile Products Co., Ltd (IHX) of China to form Ningbo ABC Inoac Huaxiang Co., Ltd. (AIH), based in Ningbo City, Jiangsu province, China. The customer base at the AIH joint venture facility includes Volkswagen, Toyota, Nissan and Daimler. Product lines produced at the joint-venture facility consists of interior, exterior and engine support products. IHX was formed as a joint venture between Japan's Inoac Corporation and China's Ningbo Huaxiang Electronic Company Limited. (From a press release on April 5, 2011)
Contracts
-In January 2004, the Company announced it would begin supplying rear cargo management systems for the new Chevrolet Equinox SUV scheduled to be produced at CAMI Automotive Inc., the 50-50 joint venture between General Motors and Suzuki Motor Corp.
Awards
| Year | Award | Winner |
| 2014 | GM Supplier Quality Excellence Award | ABC Group |
| GM Supplier Quality Excellence Award | ABC Plastic Moulding | |
| GM Supplier Quality Excellence Award | Salga Associates | |
| WeConnect Presidents Award | - | |
| Honda Development Award | ABC Group Do Brasil Ltda. | |
| 2013 | GM Overdrive Award (for Diversity Excellence) | - |
| GM Supplier of the Year | - | |
| GM Supplier of the Year | ABC Plasticos (Spain) | |
| Toyota, Certification of Cost Achievement | - |
Product Development
Rear seat back panel
-The Company developed a rear seat back panel which utilizes its blow molding technology. While a conventional seat structure consists of iron pipes and frames, the new seat back panel is comprised of a blow-molded plastic structure with integrated iron pipes. The new technology can reduce both product weight and cost by 10%. The Company is poised to propose the new product to Japanese automakers and seat suppliers which focus on developing lightweight vehicles and components. (From an article in the Nikkan Jidosha Shimbun on August 20, 2013)
Foamed plastic HVAC ducts
-The Company developed a technology to produce HVAC ducts using its original foamed plastic. The new technology reduces weight by nearly 50% and air noise passing through the ducts by approximately 10%. It also reduces the amount of plastic used in the ducts, leading to a nearly 20% reduction in production costs. The new ducts will be sold to automakers and HVAC parts manufacturers. (From an article in the Nikkan Jidosha Shimbun on July 3, 2013)
Integrated rocker molding/running board system
-In 2008, the Company received a SPE Innovation award in the Body Exterior category for the first blow-molded integrated rocker molding/running board system. The system replaces the need for a separate stamped rocker, which in turn reduces overall vehicle weight, part count, assembly, and costs. The system's design allows installation from the exterior of the vehicle without needing to attach fasteners from the underside, a first in OEM running board installation.
Blow-molded bed extender
-In 2007, the Company received a SPE Innovation award for the first blow-molded pick-up bed extender. The blow-molded pickup bed extender replaces roll-formed steel or aluminum profiles, thus reducing part count, weight, cost, assembly, and quality costs.
Blow-molded bumper system
-In 2006, the Company received a SPE Innovation award for its blow-molded bumper system. The use of plastics and new design concept allows the blow-molded bumper system to meet additional product functions and requirements. Compared to alternate designs, the Company's design reduces the number of components, reduces weight, improves product performance and cost reduction.
Body-color blow-molded running board
-In 2004, the Company received an SPE Innovation award for its body-color blow-molded running board that incorporates an integrated step pad and offers molded-in body colors with a Class-A finish. An innovative bracket attachment allows in-plant installation, eliminating the need for dealer installation as in the previous design. Compared to the previous design, this design reduces the number of components by 53% and at the same time achieves a 50% improvement in strength together with a 17% weight reduction, resulting in an estimated total of USD 100 million in cost savings.
Patents
-The Company currently has over 300 patent registrations worldwide.-In 2006, the Company started to step up marketing and sales activities targeted at Japanese affiliated automakers. The Company also considered making inroads into China and East Europe by building production facilities in the near future to support Japanese automakers also expanding into those regions. By taking such steps, the Company intended to quadruple sales to Japanese based carmakers within 5 years. The Company will focus on plastic and unit parts that are manufactured through a blow molding process, which reduces weight and costs. (From an article in the Nikkan Jidosha Shimbun on July 07, 2006)
Investments Outside Canada
-In June 2004, the Company announced it was planning to open a 140,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in London, Kentucky, USA. The Company anticipated investing over USD 19 million in the project and hiring up to 165 employees.
-In June 2002, the Company announced the opening of a Business Development Office in Zagreb, Croatia. This office would coordinate all of the Company's business activities in the Eastern Europe region including the establishment of new manufacturing facilities and suppliers.
-In December 2001, ABC Automobile-Formteile GmbH, a Company subsidiary which produces automotive underhood systems and components and specializes in the blow molding process, doubled its plant's square footage and production capacity in Dieburg, Germany.
-In September 2001, Grupo ABC de Mexico, a Company subsidiary which supplies automotive interior systems and components and air induction and fluid management systems, completed the addition of a second facility next to its current location in San Juan del Rio. This expansion enabled the Company to double its production capacity in Mexico.
Investments Within Canada
-In May 2001, Polybottle Group, which designs and manufactures packaging products for industrial, petrochemical and consumer goods for customers across North America, completed a full upgrade and expansion of its Vancouver facility. The expansion doubled the plant's square footage and enabled the facility to accommodate further growth. The upgrade also provided increased production efficiencies and better utilization of floor space.
-In April 2000, MSB Plastics, producer of a full range of automotive interior systems and components using injection molding and flexible foaming technologies, completed the expansion of the facility which increased the facility's square footage by 25%.
Data
-As of February 2015, the Company has 5,000 employees.