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Flex-N-Gate Opens Detroit Plant
Urbana, Ill.-based Flex-N-Gate has opened a $160 million facility in Detroit to make plastic and metal exterior components for Ford Motor Co.
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Urbana, Ill.-based Flex-N-Gate has opened a $160 million facility in Detroit to make plastic and metal exterior components for Ford Motor Co.
The investment is said to be the largest by a parts supplier in Detroit in more than 20 years. Flex-N-Gate expects to employ as many as 750 people at the facility.
The 480,000-sq-ft plant houses seven stamping presses and 14 injection molding machines. Flex-N-Gate says there is room to expand the site by 300,000 sq ft if needed.
Detroit sold the vacant land to Flex-N-Gate for $1.3 million in 2016. To support the project, the supplier received a $5.9 million property tax abatement from the city, a $3.5 million grant from the Michigan Strategic Fund and a $2.6 million federal grant for road improvements.
Formed in 1968, Flex-N-Gate produces front-end modules, metal bumpers, plastic fascia and trim components, headlamp housings, mechanical assemblies and prototype parts. The company has manufacturing facilities in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Mexico, Spain and the U.S.
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