American Axle to build forging plant in Mexico

8/23/2000 American Axle & Manufacturing (Detroit) says it will add a 150,000-sq.-ft. forging operation to its Silao manufacturing facility in central Mexico. Financial details of the operation weren't disclosed Wednesday. Known as the Guanajuato Forge, it will be located next to Guanajuato Gear & Axle's expanding 700,000-sq.-ft. complex. Construction should be complete by mid-2001, and production is scheduled to begin in mid-2002. The forge will add another 100 workers to the plant's existing roll of 400. The addition continues the company's growth in the region, says Guanajuato CEO Richard Dauch, and demonstrates a commitment to grow an international forging business.