Tokai's third U.S. plant up and running

TAZEWELL, Tenn. (June 26)—DTR Tennessee Inc., a subsidiary of Tokai Rubber Industries Inc., has begun production of hose and engine mounts at its newest U.S. plant. The company earlier said it planned to begin operations in Tazewell with 80 employees but did not say what it would spend to set up the operation. Tokai is experiencing substantial growth in product orders in North America because of increased production of Japanese vehicles here and new business with Ford Motor Co. valued at between $25.1 million and $33.5 million annually, the company said in a release. Tokai expects its total North American sales to reach $360.2 million in fiscal 2005 vs. $285.7 million in fiscal 2002.