Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Bill Hagerty along with U.S. Tsubaki Automotive, LLC officials announced the company’s plans to expand its Portland facility located at 138 Davis Street. The expansion represents a $1.9 million investment and will create 70 new, full-time jobs in Sumner County. The company is hosting a job fair Monday Feb. 11 at the Sumner County Career Center in Gallatin to help fill the new positions.
“With more than 900 auto manufacturers and suppliers in the state, Tennessee continues to prove itself a prime location for the auto industry and companies like Tsubaki Automotive,” Hagerty said. “We are grateful Tsubaki calls Tennessee home and has chosen to further invest in our state and its citizens.”
Tsubaki Automotive is the world leader in chain technology and offers its customers the finest state-of-the-art power transmission products available in the world. The company supplies complete chain drive systems for many engine and transmission applications, including cam drives, balancer drives and oil pump drives. The systems typically include chains, tensioners, guides and sprockets.
“The expansion to Tennessee is very exciting for the Tsubaki team. Tsubaki prides itself in innovation, employee dedication and being committed to the community. These fundamental values are the foundation that has led to our success. We look forward to growing our partnership with the community and creating lasting opportunities,” Tim Goble, Portland plant manager, Tsubaki, said.
Tsubaki’s customers include the major automotive OEMs in North America: General Motors, Ford, Toyota, Nissan and Honda. The company provides complete services including initial design support utilizing CAD, component and engine testing and analysis.
“Tsubaki is a long-standing member of our industrial community, and we are very pleased that they have decided to expand right here in Portland,” Ken Wilbur, mayor, City of Portland, said. “It’s a good sign for our business climate when businesses choose to expand their existing Tennessee locations. We are also appreciative of our partnership with the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development and their work on this project. As a team, we are all very excited for Tsubaki and wish them continued success.”
“I am pleased to congratulate Tsubaki on their expansion and new job creation in Portland. We are proud of Tsubaki's existing and new investment in our community,” Denise Geminden, Economic and Community Development Director for the City of Portland, said. “Tsubaki demonstrates their dedication to Portland through participation in community events. We appreciate the Tsubaki team and champion their continued growth in Portland.”
Tsubaki’s light assembly operations will occupy 60,000 square feet of the facility’s current space, leaving 30,000 square feet to the Conveyor Operations currently housed there. The additional 70 jobs will be a mixture of production and engineering positions. The company will host a job fair from 9 am – 3 pm Monday, Feb. 11 at the Sumner County Career Center, 175 College Street, Gallatin, TN 37066.
About the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development’s mission is to develop strategies which help make Tennessee the No. 1 location in the Southeast for high quality jobs. The department seeks to attract new corporate investment in Tennessee and works with Tennessee companies to facilitate expansion and economic growth. Find us on the web: tn.gov/ecd. Follow us on Twitter: @tnecd. Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/tnecd.
About U.S. Tsubaki Automotive, LLC
Tsubakimoto Chain Company was founded in 1917 in Japan and began manufacturing roller chain in 1923. Today, Tsubaki chain is marketed in over 70 countries and sales exceed $1.7 billion globally. U. S. Tsubaki, a subsidiary of Tsubakimoto Chain Company, was founded in 1971. U.S. Tsubaki has service centers strategically located in Dallas, TX; Wheeling (Chicago), IL; Atlanta, GA; Philadelphia, PA and Los Angeles, CA and manufacturing facilities in Holyoke, MA; Chicopee, MA; Anoka, MN; Sandusky, OH and Milwaukee, WI.