Mexican Supplier to Buy J.L. French

Mexico's Alfa ABA has agreed to buy closely held J.L. French Automotive Castings Inc. for an undisclosed price.

Sheboygan, Wis.-based J.L. French makes aluminum transmission parts and generates about $500 million in annual revenue. Alfa describes its Nemak unit as the world's largest independent producer of aluminum engine heads and blocks.

The Mexican company says the technology it gains from the acquisition will help it expand into other high-value-added productions such as suspension and structural parts.