US based soft-trim supplier Haartz has formed a strategic alliance to establish a joint-venture (JV) with Taiwan-based automotive moulded parts supplier Minth Group. The new company is to be called Haartz-Minth Ningbo Automotive, and will focus on automotive interior surface materials. The new JV will be based in Ningbo in eastern China in order to gain from existing resources at the Minth Group’s facility in Taiyong city. Included in the JV is the Haartz product line of mouldable surface materials for various interior components, including door panels, instrument panels, and centre consoles.
The Minth Group has 46 facilities in China and nine additional production facilities around the world. Minth is a leader in the production of moulded trim and decorative parts for exterior body and structural body parts, seat frames, and roof racks. The Haartz Corp's world headquarters and North American manufacturing operations are located in Acton, Massachusetts, US, with additional manufacturing facilities in Mannheim, Germany, and new facilities due to open soon in Pune, India.
Significance: Haartz is a supplier of soft-trim materials for the automotive interiors market, and serves a number of OEMs and major tier one suppliers. China is becoming an increasingly important market for US-based automakers and suppliers, and this alliance with the Minth Group will help Haartz better meet the demands of its customers.
