September 22, 2006 - DTR Tennessee, Inc. is expanding its manufacturing facility located in Claiborne County. This expansion is the third since the plant began production in January 2003. This addition will add another 88,000 sq.ft. and will increase the total plant size to 309,250 sq.ft. The $10 million investment in building and equipment will bring the total Claiborne County investment to over $50m million. The new expansion is scheduled to begin in December of this year with completion scheduled for September 2007. DTR Tennessee expects to add an additional 150 associates with this expansion. The current employment level at the Claiborne County plant is 300 and is expected to increase to 400 by the end of 2007. Total employment for this facility is expected to reach 550 by the end of 2008 with this latest expansion.
According to Mr. Ryusuke Kito, President, this expansion is due to the continued success of DTR’s customers and the hard work and dedication of the DTR Tennessee associates. It is also an indication of the strong support DTR has received the community and state.
DTR Tennessee, Inc. is a supplier of anti-vibration and hose products for the automotive industry. Major customers include Toyota, Honda, Nissan, and Ford. The parent company of DTR is Tokai Rubber Industries, based in Komaki, Japan.
In addition to Claiborne County, DTR Tennessee also has a facility located in Greene County. The Greene County facility began production in 1997 and has experienced 8 major expansions. The employment level of the Greene County plant is currently 950 and investment is over $150 million.
With the addition at the Claiborne County facility, this will bring DTR Tennessee’s total employment to 1,500 and investment over $200 million.
