6 area parts firms meet on Jeep project

5/20/2004

Six area auto parts makers who want contracts to supply parts to DaimlerChrysler AG as part of a $2.1 billion expansion at the Toledo Jeep Assembly Plant met yesterday with Toledo Mayor Jack Ford to talk about how to persuade the automaker to hire them.

Jay Black, Jr., the city's chief operating officer, who conducted the meeting, said the company has told the mayor and local United Auto Workers officials that the six firms must be more competitive before the automaker would consider using them.

The six are New Mather Metals and TTL Associates, both in Toledo, Johnson Controls in Holland, Lear Corp. in Northwood, JAC Products in Maumee, and Hinkle Manufacturing in Perrysburg Township.

They were urged to become involved in a grassroots campaign, organized by union and civic leaders, to try to get Chrysler to strongly consider hiring firms from Toledo or with Toledo factories. The message to Chrysler, Mr. Black said, is that high productivity at Toledo Jeep isn't unique to that complex and other Toledo area workers can do high-quality work.