QUERETARO, Mexico—Engineered fasteners supplier EFC International Inc. has opened a subsidiary company and warehouse in Queretaro to support its booming business south of the border.
The Mexico operation, called EFC Global S de RL de CV, is the firm's first in the country. It employs sales engineers, customer service and support staff, according to Mary Becker, the company's vice president of North American sales.
St. Louis-based EFC, which designs but does not manufacture plastic, metal and rubber caps, plugs and knobs, is enjoying an annual sales growth of at least 10 percent in the Mexican market, where it has more than 500 customers, according to Joyce Gerber, marketing production manager.
Gerber said that much of EFC's business is within Mexico's automotive market. The company supplies Ford, GM, Chrysler, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Hyundai, Toyota and Honda vehicles, among others, according to its website.
"EFC's robust international growth is a tribute to the EFC team and to the strong international reputation of the world-class manufacturers they have partnered with," Becker said.
The company contends that it was the right time to build an operation in Mexico, even with uncertainty about the future of the North American Free Trade Agreement. EFC remains optimistic about the NAFTA negotiations, and Gerber noted that the company is "keeping a close eye on the talks."
Founded in 1983, EFC has warehouse facilities in the U.S., Germany, China, South Korea and now Mexico.