MyPE

Community Business Directory, Event Listings, News and Views from Gqeberha, Nelson Mandela Bay

From PE to Kentucky for Hansens

By

Kyndle – the Kentucky Network for Development, Leadership and Engagement – announced on 4 November that automotive parts maker Hansens Aluminum LLC, a family owned South African company from Port Elizabeth, plans to locate a 90-job, $18.4 million manufacturing facility in Henderson.

Hansens plans to build a state-of-the-art aluminum extrusion facility of up to 75,000 square feet at the Henderson County Riverport beginning in April. The plant could start producing automotive components by the end of 2017 and will supply customers throughout the U.S. and Mexico.

Jared Pudney
Jared Pudney

“We see great opportunities to supply our existing customers from Kentucky and to add new clients. The Henderson operation will expand our global capacity and allow us to add new automotive products to our range,” said Jared Pudney, Hansens business development manager (who was schooled at Victoria Park High in PE). “The support we have experienced at a local and state level from both elected officials and economic developers has been truly exceptional. This certainly influenced our decision towards Kentucky.”

On behalf of Kentucky’s automotive industry, I want to welcome Hansens Aluminum to Henderson, KY. They will be a terrific asset to the region and to our state. Moreover, their commitment is evidence of the strength of the automotive industry in the Commonwealth said Dave Tatman, Director of the Kentucky Automotive Industry Association

Donna M Crooks, CEcD, Vice-President Economic Development said Kyndle has been working with Hansens Aluminum for well over a year now. We are thrilled to announce Hansens will build its new manufacturing facility in our region representing the first Foreign Direct Investment in Kentucky by a South African company. We welcome Hansens into our business community and wish them much success.

Hansens is a third-generation family business, founded in Port Elizabeth, South Africa in 1956. The company exports components to automotive suppliers worldwide, including companies in Germany, Spain, Poland, China and Mexico. Hansens produces more than 25 million anti-vibration and HVAC line fitting components annually. The Kentucky facility will add capacity to produce a variety of other automotive parts.

Sen. Dorsey Ridley, of Henderson, said the high-paying jobs will give the community a boost.

“The Hansens Aluminum announcement is great news for Henderson,” said Sen. Ridley. “These are high paying jobs and will help our local economy. I look forward to the company’s success and growth well into the future. Our community welcomes them and stands ready to fill the new positions with skilled workers.”

Rep. Suzanne Miles, of Owensboro, said the entire region will be impacted by the arrival of Hansens.

“I am incredibly excited about the news of a very substantial investment by Hansens Aluminum in Henderson,” Rep. Miles said. “The new facility will encompass up to 75,000 square feet of building, to the tune of an $18 million investment and 90 new jobs. The impact of this move will be felt region wide, for both families and our local communities. I commend all those who made this possible and look forward to seeing this project fulfilled.”

Henderson County Judge-Executive Brad Schneider said company executives have been great to work with throughout the process.

“Henderson County is so proud and pleased to be the home of the first South African manufacturer to establish a facility in Kentucky. We truly appreciate the executive team of Hansens making such a tremendous investment in our community. I also commend the team at Kyndle for their hard work on this project. On a personal note, getting the chance over the past year to get to know and build relationships with Erik Hansen and Jared Pudney has been a joy.”

See: http://www.hansens.co.za

The following two tabs change content below.
My Twitter profileMy Facebook profileMy Google+ profileMy LinkedIn profileMy Flickr profileMy Pinterest profile

Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.