Germany-based Heiche Surface Technologies has announced it will open its second U.S. location, an advanced metals coating facility in Jasper, creating 73 jobs.
The company, whose customers include the automotive industry, will operate out of a more than 100,000-square-foot speculative building in the Jasper Industrial Park, just two miles from Interstate 22.
“Alabama’s automotive industry continues to spark economic growth throughout many parts of the state, and that robust growth is transforming Jasper into a hub for international automotive suppliers,” said Gov. Kay Ivey. “Heiche is a welcome addition to the automotive supply chain emerging in the Walker County city and all across Sweet Home Alabama.”
Construction on the new facility will begin in a few weeks and should be complete by October, 2021.
Founded in 1965, Heiche has locations in Germany, Hungary and Poland, as well as a Spartanburg, South Carolina operation, which opened in 2013. The company specializes in chemical surface treatments of metal parts, serving the automotive, machinery and electronics industries. It is an expert in light metals like aluminum and magnesium. The company provides e-coat/hard anodizing, conversion coating, passivation and residual clean washing operations.
In 2018, Heiche became part of the publicly traded KAP AG, operating within its KAP Surface Technologies group, which includes 10 locations with more than 800 employees.
“Despite ongoing uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic and widespread reductions or restructurings in the automotive industry, KAP Surface Technologies continues to invest and expand its operations,” said Nicolai A.J. Baum, CEO of KAP Surface Technologies. “By expanding its existing U.S. manufacturing footprint in the strategically well-situated Walker County, KAP Surface Technologies expects to strengthen its position in the U.S. market.”
Heiche will join four other automotive suppliers operating in Jasper, which is located within 250 miles of 11 different automotive assembly plants in the Southeast.
“We chose Jasper because we see a huge potential for development,” said Jürgen Werner, head of mergers and acquisitions and greenfield investments at KAP Surface Technologies. “Close location to the biggest players in the automotive industry, hospitality of the local authorities and great infrastructure are some of the key aspects, which resulted in our decision for this location.”
The Walker County Development Authority, the Jasper Industrial Development Board and the city of Jasper have been working on the Heiche project for the past four months.
“The cooperation between the state, local leaders, industrial boards, utilities and regional allies was critical to the successful recruitment of Heiche,” said David Knight, executive director of the Walker County Development Authority. “As an industry leader in advanced metal coatings, Heiche and their state-of-the-art facility are a welcome addition to our community and will help further our efforts to grow and diversify our local economy.”
