Minth Group Limited, a global automotive supplier based in Taiwan, plans to invest $430 million into turning a former steelmaking site in Gadsden into its largest plant.
The project is slated for the 400-acre brownfield site previously occupied by Republic Steel and Gulf States Steel, according to the Gadsden-Etowah Industrial Development Authority.
At the new facility, Minth will produce plastic and aluminum components for U.S. automotive plants, including Hyundai in Montgomery and Kia in West Point, Georgia.
“Alabama is a worldwide leader in automotive innovation, and Minth Group Limited’s plans to build an advanced manufacturing hub in Gadsden is another successful chapter for our state industry,” Ellen McNair, secretary of Alabama’s Department of Commerce, said in a news release.
Minth’s U.S. operations are part of Minth North America Inc., with regional headquarters in Wixom, Michigan, and two other locations in Michigan and Tennessee. The Gadsden site will have almost 1 million square feet of manufacturing space.
Minth’s investment is expected to create hundreds of jobs initially with the potential to reach up to 1,325 positions as operations grow in a community that has seen departures of Goodyear, Gulf States Steel and other employers.
“From rubble to renewal, from depression to prosperity – this site, once a reminder of jobs that moved overseas, now represents a bright future,” said William Chin, the son of Minth’s founder and the company’s chief strategy officer. “It’s not rubber and steel anymore; it’s plastic and aluminum. We see tremendous opportunity here to serve the evolving needs of the automotive industry.”
David Hooks, chief executive of the Gadsden-Etowah Industrial Development Authority, called Minth’s plans a “transformational moment.”
“The new investment not only impacts the property itself, but will impact the broader economies of Gadsden, Etowah County and all of Northeast Alabama,” Hooks said. “We are honored that Minth Group has chosen Gadsden as the location to expand its North American presence. We look forward to supporting their continued growth and to the long-term economic opportunities this investment will bring to our region.”
