Article submitted by the City of Gadsden
Gadsden, AL – Global automotive supplier Minth Group Limited plans to turn a former steelmaking site in Gadsden into its largest-ever campus in a $430 million investment that will create more than 1,300 jobs, the company announced today.
The project is slated for the 400-acre brownfield site that was the previous location of Republic Steel and Gulf States Steel. The new facility will produce high-quality plastic and aluminum components for automakers’ U.S. plants including Hyundai in Montgomery and Kia in West Point, Ga.
“Alabama is a worldwide leader in automotive innovation, and Minth Group Limited’s plans to build an advanced manufacturing hub in Gadsden is another successful chapter for our state industry,” said Alabama Department of Commerce Secretary Ellen McNair.
McNair credited the stellar reputation of the state’s automotive workforce for its continued growth.
“Our automakers and supplier operations are filled with experts who are building high-quality, in-demand products for markets around the world,” McNair said. “Their work continues to draw new additions to our auto industry, where they find supportive
partnerships and a true home in communities across the state.”
Gadsden Mayor Craig Ford said his top priority has been to bring high-paying jobs back to Gadsden. One key goal was filling the former Goodyear plant, and that goal was met with last year’s announcement that Wyoming-based Takkion will use the facility as a storage and handling hub for renewable energy materials, primarily solar panels.
“My remaining focus was finding another quality tenant for the old Republic Steel property, and man, we hit the lottery with Minth,” Ford said. “I didn’t think we could find someone who values the citizens of Gadsden as much as I do, but they’ve exceeded all our expectations. They have tremendous plans for this facility, and I’m thrilled to have them become a part of
our community and our future.”
Taiwan-based Minth, an industry leader in automotive trim and structural components with 78 plants around the globe, said the new Alabama location will help the company better serve its North American customers, including those transitioning to electric and advanced vehicles.
Minth’s U.S. operations are part of Minth North America Inc., with regional headquarters in Wixom, Mich., and two other locations in Michigan and Tennessee. The Gadsden site is expected to be a flagship U.S. facility with nearly 1 million square feet of manufacturing space. The company plans to renovate and expand the former steel mill, and the new jobs’ average annual wages are expected to top $49,000.
Minth’s investment in Gadsden is expected to create hundreds of jobs initially, with the potential to reach up to 1,325 positions as operations grow, bringing additional economic renewal in a community that has seen departures of major employers such as Goodyear and Gulf States Steel.
“From rubble to renewal, from depression to prosperity – this site, once a reminder of jobs that moved overseas, now represents a bright future,” said William Chin, the son of Minth’s founder and the company’s chief strategy officer. “It’s not rubber and steel anymore; it’s plastic and aluminum. We see tremendous opportunity here to serve the evolving needs of
the automotive industry.”
Chin commended the forward-thinking leadership in Gadsden for recognizing the site’s potential.
“I want to especially thank the mayor, our local economic development partners and Gadsden State Community College for seeing the diamond in the rough before we did,: Chin said. “Their unwavering belief in their community will make this old steel mill shine again. Now, together we will bring it back to life and build something enduring for generations to come.”
David Hooks, chief executive of the Gadsden-Etowah Industrial Development Authority, said Minth’s acquisition of the former steelmaking site marks a transformational moment for the community. He thanked the Casey family, who for the past 25 years have worked to clean up and redevelop the property into a productive business operation.
There are currently five businesses at the site, and those operations will continue.
“The new investment not only impacts the property itself, but will impact the broader economies of Gadsden, Etowah County and all of Northeast Alabama,” Hooks said. “We are honored that Minth Group has chosen Gadsden as the location to expand its North American presence. We look forward to supporting their continued growth and to the long-term economic opportunities this investment will bring to our region.”
