ACH Operations Sold, Will Move Out of Plymouth Township
ACH operations will relocate to Romulus beginning in 2013.
Ford Motor Company and Automotive Components Holdings, LLC (ACH) announced Monday the sale of the last remaining ACH operation – the climate control business currently located at the ACH plant, 14425 Sheldon Road in Plymouth Township, according to a news release.
Ford and ACH have signed definitive agreements for the sale of the climate control business to Detroit Thermal Systems, LLC (DTS), a joint venture between Valeo and V. Johnson Enterprises, LLC. V. Johnson Enterprises is owned by Vincent (Vinnie) Johnson, a Detroit entrepreneur and former Detroit Pistons basketball star, according to the news release.
ACH was started in October 2005 with 17 automotive components plants, the news release said.
The initial closing of the sale has taken place, the news release said, and operations will move to a new DTS manufacturing facility in Romulus beginning in mid-2013 and concluding by the end of 2014.
“Few companies take the longer-term, comprehensive approach we took with the restructuring of ACH,” said Mark Fields, Ford president of The Americas, in the news release. “From the start, our eye was on what was required to transform these operations into businesses that would attract the world’s best suppliers needed to move Ford’s business forward – and at the same time, preserve as many jobs as possible. We are proud of what we accomplished.”
MikeJR
11:01 am on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
What does this mean for the facility? If the business is moving, can we assume to land and building will be up for sale? This would be the biggest Visions for Vacancies yet. For years I've pictured a mixed use area on that site, anchored by a minor league baseball stadium. Surrounding the stadium would be urban style retail/commercial with apartments above and townhomes. Easy highway access makes that site prime.
John McKay
11:38 am on Tuesday, October 30, 2012
I was definitely considering this as a Visions for Vacancies. It will be sold. I would love a minor league baseball stadium.
ecnalubma
8:23 pm on Wednesday, October 31, 2012
I have to wonder if the our dysfunctional government and lack of adequate fire protection here in Plymouth Township had any bearing on the decision to locate elsewhere?
Jake Wellborn
8:17 am on Thursday, November 1, 2012
It was a business decision to consolidate at the better facility-end of story\
Happens all the time across America.
Jake Wellborn
8:20 am on Thursday, November 1, 2012
We have the same level of service we had before the firefighters forced the city to leave. We still have 2 firestations, whereas our neighbor Northville Twp has only one. Plus the new station in downtown Plymouth adds to our mutual aid. nothing has changed. Stop trying to scare people with your firefighter fed mis-information.
Dave
11:00 am on Thursday, November 1, 2012
I know a little about this, I used to work at the facility several years back, and continue to work in the Automotive Climate Control field. About 4 years ago Valeo bid for the facility, and wanted the Union to take a pay cut. The union refused and Valeo backed out (see http://www.datamonitor.com/store/News/ford_to_sell_climate_control_unit_to_valeo?productid=727FBE56-A601-435D-96EF-1DE8122FF800 .)
There was no guarantee that Valeo wouldn't have moved the business even if the union OKd the deal, but that is the history. This has been a long time coming (>15 years), the plant was expensive to run, and on valuable land.
Ms. T
5:18 pm on Thursday, November 1, 2012
Jake to Paul Schulz: "How much are the firefighters paying you ? You are so focused on Edwards and his mythical super-powers , that you either need to date the man or get over his rejection. Is that why you have a drinking problem ???" HAHAHAHAHAHA that is about the funniest comment yet! And you might be on to something! Kudos to you Jake!