BANGKOK--29 Nov--Kyodo JBN-AsiaNet/InfoQuest SUS Corp., the parent company of SUS (Thailand) Co., LTD., which designs, develops, manufactures and markets Factory Automation (FA) aluminum equipment parts and machinery, is seeing completion of the construction of its FA parts production plant in Lamphun. The construction of this new factory is the largest investment for SUS in Thailand and it is scheduled to be completed on December 20, with production slated to commence in January next year. SUS Corp. views Thailand as a key center of operations for developing the company's overseas operations in the Asia region as the country offers low labor costs and is attracting an increasing number of manufacturing companies in the automotive and semiconductor industries. SUS Corp. began operations in Thailand with the consignment production of nuts in 2000 and followed byconstructing its own factory in 2001. The company currently maintains three subsidiary companies in Lamphun manufacturing nuts and brackets for FA applications. The new factory will raise the production efficiency and enhance SUS' ability to meet the growing demand for FA and architectural parts. SUS (Thailand) Co., Ltd., which currently produces sintered metal (stainless powder) nuts, will be transferred to the new factory, which will also be equipped with additional facilities to produce nuts, brackets, plastic extrusion products, and other products. In addition, the company plans to transfer the manufacturing equipment of two other subsidiaries in Thailand to the new factory within the next two to three years, which will raise the annual production capacity in Thailand to three times the current level. SUS Corp. has acquired an approximately 26 hectares (164rai) site in Lamphun and plans to complete a series of factories by 2017, that will integrate the manufacture of aluminum and other accessory parts, to be called "Aluminum Land". This center will carry out comprehensive manufacturing, from aluminum frames to other accessory parts, as well as assembly operations in house. SUS Corp. is aiming for new factory sales to reach 200 million baht in year 2008 and rising to 500 million baht in five years. The "World's first" climatically suitable and environmentally sustainable factory The new factory is carefully designed with specific features catered to be fully suited to Thailand's distinctive climate conditions, including heavy rains, and also to be a highly environmentally friendly structure. The building is the world's first* factory in which the exterior walls are installed with large electrically-driven louvers. *As of November 1, 2007, based on company research. The factory is set upon an elevated floor platform, surrounded by a circular embankment called "Waju", and places a flood control reservoir. These precautionary measures are designed to minimize the potential damage from flooding and ensure the factory continues to provide a steady supply of products, no matter the conditions or weather. The louvered walls make the facility effectively "wall-less" with the ability to open and close the lovers of exterior walls, thus enabling for optimal conditions inside the factory throughout the year without the need for air conditioning. The new factory's walls are primarily constructed of aluminum material that is amenable to reuse, and present a minimal environmental impact. In addition, aluminum features a sophisticated and highly corrosive-resistant semi-permanent quality. Source: SUS Corp. Contact: Tom Van Blarcom / Maetavarin Maneekulpan TQPR Thailand Phone: 0-2260-5820 Fax: 0-2260-5847-8 E-mail: [email protected] URL: http://global.sus.co.jp website: http://global.sus.co.jp --Distributed by AsiaNet ( www.asianetnews.net )--