Bulletin 451 - Friday, December 18, 2009

The Danish company Nilfisk opened a new plant to manufacture industrial cleaning machines in Queretaro. US$10 million were invested to build and equip this factory; creating 200 direct jobs and close to 600 indirect jobs. Nilfisk-Advance is leader in the manufacture of professional cleaning equipment. They have manufacturing plants in Asia, Europe and North America; in addition to sales offices in 41 countries, as well as sales representatives in more than 100. Their current labor force includes 4 thousand 500 employees all over the world. The company is part of NKT Holding Group, a corporation manufacturer of commercial cleaning products; their customers portfolio includes industries, governments and professional cleaning companies.

Source: Reforma

Veracruz, Mexico,- After the economic crisis, Hutchinson Port Holdings (HPH), a company specialized in moving containers cargo, will reinforce their investments in Mexico, by increasing the size of their containers terminal in Lazaro Cardenas and the development of Hidalgo Project, Jorge Lecona informed. Mr. Lecona, CEO for the Company's Latin America Division, explained that investments in Lazaro Cardenas are meant for modernization, purchasing machinery and infrastructure. In 2009 they invested more than US$32 million in this port. In addition, the company is planning the development of a commercial zone in Ensenada Cruiser Liners Terminal as a new attraction for tourists; the construction of a mega-warehouse in Manzanillo Port and the purchase of new equipment for their TNG shipyard in Veracruz.

Source: El Mural

Puebla, Mexico,- Charles Matanous Abboud, Industry Sub-secretary in the Ministry of Economic Development, said that Puebla has the opportunity to attract investment from Asia. He said that in automotive, electric power and metal-mechanics sectors, Brazil is the main competition as a country, and among states in Mexico the hardest competition comes from San Luis Potosi, Sonora and Queretaro. Mr. Matanous Abboud acknowledged that competition with other states is more and more complicated, because Puebla's Industrial Foster Act has been left behind. But beyond incentives offered by states to attract new investments, it is companies which finally decide, he cleared out, and therefore Puebla is looking for companies that want to export to South America, Eastern Europe and the USA.

Source: Periodico Digital

Matamoros, Mexico,- A special ceremony will be held for the official kickoff of Autoliv Matamoros Mexico, to start operating in Fraccionamiento Industrial del Norte. As part of their global optimization strategy, Autoliv Corporation recently purchased assets from Delphi Componentes Mecanicos de Matamoros, a renowned supplier of steering wheels in the automotive industry. This plant will change its name to Autoliv Matamoros México (AMM) and will be the sixth plant Autoliv has in Mexico. Manuel Garcia, Chairman of the Processing Industry Chamber, Camara Nacional de la Industria de Transformacion, said that Autoliv starting operations in Matamoros after purchasing Delphi's assets, is very significant, because this will strenghten companies related to the manufacture of parts for the automotive industry.

Source: Expreso Matamoros

Mexico City,- O´Donnell, industrial facilities developer, announced Grupo Modelo has leased a 50 thousand 765 square meters building in Bernardo Quintana Industrial Park, located in Queretaro. According to a press release, the building meets Grupo Modelo's requirements, with a functional design. Bernardo Quintana Industrial Park is located 11 miles from downtown Queretaro. It is one of the main and longest serving industrial parks in Queretaro, where important companies from almost every industrial sector have established. O'Donnell invests in high concentration markets in the main urban centers in Mexico. They currently own and manage 1.02 million square meters and have presence in 15 markets throughout Mexico. Among O'Donnell clients in Mexico (in build to suit sector), stand out Mattel, Kuehne+Nagel, LG, ArvinMeritor, Magna and Timken, while in speculative industrial buildings there are: Nestlé, Genomma Lab, BASF de México, Hellman Worldwide Logistics and Logisfashion, among others.

Source: T21

Monterrey, Mexico,- The German company Liebherr announced yesterday they are starting the construction of a plant in Garcia Municipality to manufacture components for high technology activators, with an estimated investment of US$110 million. According to a press release, the complex will be installed in a 300 thousand square meters (3,229,159 square feet) plot of land and construction will last around eight months. "The subsidiary is expected to start operating in the summer of 2010, creating 180 new jobs", the Company informed. Liebherr Monterrey is world leader in manufacturing construction machinery; they have 32 thousand employees in more than 100 plants throughout the world, providing services in several fields.

Source: El Norte

Monterrey, Mexico,- The European company Eurocopter sees high possibilities to establish in Nuevo Leon to produce helicopter parts; the decision could be made in the first quarter next year, to start operations in 2011, Sergio Durand officially confirmed for the first time. Mr. Durand, President and CEO for Eurocopter Mexico, said that they think Nuevo Leon is attractive mainly because of its qualified labor force, in addition to low costs; top colleges such Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon and Tec de Monterrey; its proximity to their subsidiary in Dallas, as well as political willingness by state and federal authorities. This decision is closely linked to a helicopter purchase agreement entered with the Federal Government, which this year considered a purchase agreement for six units, but later agreed in adding six more, all of them EC725 model.

Source: El Norte