NOBLESVILLE, Ind.—Vibracoustic CV Air Springs GmbH is considering whether it should establish a manufacturing facility for its Blacktech and Aircruise lines of air springs in North America.
"We understand and realize that we need to have production on the continent if we're going to be a major player in the aftermarket," said Jimmy Carter, sales manager for Vibracoustic CV Air Springs North America.
If it decides to pursue production in North America, the company is unsure whether the new facility will be set up in the U.S. or Mexico. Carter said the plant only would manufacture the CV air springs it now imports from overseas.
Vibracoustic CV Air Springs was formed in June as a joint venture between TrelleborgVibracoustic and HSS Otomotiv ve Lastik Sanayi A.S.
The company said the goal of Vibracoustic CV Air Springs is to be close to all customers in all regions of the world to meet their expectations with regards to flexibility, service, technology and quality.
Vibracoustic CV Air Springs' parent company currently manufactures seat and cab air springs in Mexico, but does not have production for the Blacktech and Aircruise lines in the region.
The company exports the CV lines from its facility in Hungary and markets them to the region out of its air springs sales office in Noblesville, through Vibracoustic CV Air Springs.
Carter and Linda Keller, the North American marketing manager with Vibracoustic CV Air Springs, run the Noblesville office. Both spent nearly a combined 60 years with Firestone Industrial Products Co.
Carter has 37 years of experience in air spring sales, and Keller has spent more than 25 years in sales and marketing.
Firestone Industrial Products closed its air springs facility in Noblesville in 2009.
Carter said the Noblesville office's top priority is to develop a distributor base for the aftermarket.
The Aircruise line is marketed to original equipment manufacturers.
The Blacktech line is sold primarily to distributors in the aftermarket and will be available in the North American market in 2014.