Auto supplier HTNA adds new Alabama production facility, 100 jobs

October 01, 2013

Words by Jerry Underwood

JASPER, Alabama – HTNA, a tier-one auto supplier that manufactures carpet and interior trim components for Honda, Toyota and other automakers, plans to hire 100 workers after constructing a new Alabama production facility.

The company said its new, state-of-the-art plant is located in the Bevill Industrial Park in Jasper, less than two miles from the Industrial Parkway interchange on the future Interstate 22 (now Corridor X).

HTNA, a subsidiary of Nagoya, Japan-based Hayashi Telempu, first established a location in Jasper in 2011, when it was known as AMTEX. At the time, the company leased Spec Building No. 4 from the Jasper Industrial Board for its operation. HTNA today employs 84 people in Walker County.

In April 2012, HTNA purchased 60 acres in the Bevill Industrial Park to construct a larger manufacturing center. Phase One of the company’s expansion project is the new 145,000-square-foot facility on Industrial Way, which is three times larger than the original factory at the park. Construction was completed in April, and the building has now been outfitted.

HTNA, a Tier One supplier that manufactures carpet and interior trim components for automakers, operates this plant in Jasper. Its planning a $7 million expansion that will add 19 jobs.

HTNA said it will hire an additional 100 workers as a result of the expansion, adding that payroll at full employment is expected to be $4 million per year.

Gov. Robert Bentley, who attended a ceremony in Jasper last week to mark the completion of the construction project, said HTNA expanded in Walker County because of the quality of the workforce, according to a report in The Daily Mountain Eagle.

“Alabama has the best workforce and the best workers of any state in the United States and, I believe, in the world.” Bentley said. “And that helps me as I try to recruit jobs from all over the world. The quality of the people in this state and the hard workers, the dedication and the pride they take, that you take, in things you do everyday — I want to thank you. You help me recruit jobs for other people every day, and I want to tell you how much I appreciate it.”

HTNA said that Jasper’s location offers it proximity to several automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEM’s) in the region. Honda’s assembly plant in Lincoln, Ala., stands 85 miles away, while the Toyota factory near Tupelo, Miss., is about 110 miles away on the future I-22. The Nissan auto plant in Canton, Miss, is 200 miles distant.

“HTNA has been an amazing company to work with; they are ideally positioned to serve multiple automotive OEM’s from their new facility in Jasper,” said David Knight, executive director of the Walker County Development Authority.

“The growth and expansion at HTNA is a testament to the quality of the local workforce,” he added. “Expanding is the highest compliment a company can give to the local community; we are proud that HTNA calls Walker County home.”

The Bevill Industrial Park also is home to Nitto Denko, another Japanese supplier with about 75 workers that supports the Honda plant.

Hayashi Telempu is a privately held company operating in six countries. It has five North American facilities.

HTNA said it received support for its expansion project from the Walker County Development Authority and the Jasper Industrial Board. Officials previously said the project represented a $27 million investment.