Elring Klinger to begin MLS gasket production in U.S.

LAS VEGAS (Nov. 8)—Elring Klinger of North America Inc. will begin multi-layer steel gasket production in the U.S. by mid-2001. "If we want to supply to Ford, General Motors or Chrysler, we have to set up shop here (in the U.S.). We can´t supply out of Europe,´´ Ingo Rau, president of Elring´s Middlesex, N.J.-based marketing arm Elring of North America Inc., said during Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week 2000, held Oct. 31-Nov. 3 in Las Vegas. The Germany-based supplier will double the size of its Livonia, Mich., heat shield plant to accommodate production and Viton coating of the gaskets for a 2002 model year General Motors Corp. engine and a 2003 Ford Motor Co. engine, said Richard McLaughlin, manager of sales and marketing for Elring Klinger of North America. The move will create up to 35 new manufacturing jobs in the Detroit suburb.