ElringKlinger plant starts production

LEAMINGTON, Ontario (Aug. 23)—ElringKlinger Sealing Systems Inc. in June began coating and assembly of multi-layer steel gaskets at a new, 20,000-sq.-ft. plant in Leamington, its third in the city. The operation employs 30 and required a $3.2 million investment. The number of employees will increase, as will floor space, probably by 2003 as booked business comes on stream, said Douglas Matton, managing director of the North American subsidiary of ElringKlinger A.G. Since Elring came to North America in the 1990s, the commitment always was to establish local manufacturing if business merited it, Matton said. "Our customer base was telling (us) in Germany that if you really want North American growth you need to manufacture in North America."