Amsted Automotive, the global leader in advanced metal-forming, powder metal manufacturing, and electro-mechanical clutch design, has formed a Joint Venture (JV) with VT Industrial Technology via Means Industries to further improve Means' position as a leader in technology and manufacturing in the automotive market.
Amsted Automotive itself is the merger of two of its century-old, core Tier 1 automotive supply business units, Means Industries and Burgess Norton, to form a new and innovative technology team. VT Industrial Technology Co., Ltd is a leader in automotive parts manufacturing in China. The company designs, engineers and produces metal stamping moulds, bodies in white, door components, seat components and other products for the rapidly expanding Chinese automotive market.
The new JV company will be named MEANS&VT (Wuxi) Power Technology Co., LTD, and it will be located in Wuxi, China. Teams from both companies have already co-located and are working to launch new products with a Chinese Domestic OEM in 2023, in addition to working with other automakers to develop and deliver needed powertrain manufacturing services immediately.
The latest JV will combine Means' advanced metal forming and joining expertise with the sophisticated tool-making capabilities of VT Industrial Technology, supplying the growing automotive manufacturing base in China with a new level of powertrain and advanced metal forming precision. In addition to serving the China market, the new JV will serve the metal forming and tooling needs of the European and Japanese markets.
Automotive manufacturing in China is significant and growing quickly both in volume and technology. This JV will allow both companies to be at the forefront of advanced metal-forming processes, providing Chinese automakers with quality and precision, which previously was not readily available. It will also facilitate in-country manufacturing in China and will be Amsted Automotive's third manufacturing JV in China, following Piston Pin Co. and Burgess Norton WH (Shanghai) Auto-Parts Co.