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Two foreign-owned suppliers are among the companies selected to receive 2021 GEAR Awards, a recognition bestowed by the Georgia Department of Economic Development for contributions to the state’s automotive industry.
YKK (U.S.A.) Inc., the Japanese-owned company’s longstanding factory in Macon, was named supplier of the year in the category of large companies (those with more than 200 employees.)
Known as a zipper company, YKK has steadily grown its automotive portfolio in recent years, producing zippers for seats, along with hook-and-loop fasteners, plastic hardware and snaps and buttons for seats and truck tonneau cover hold-downs. It counts 100 customers in the auto sector, and executives have long been advocates for smooth, predictable rules in the North American trade in cars.
The company set up shop in Macon in the 1970s, becoming the state’s first Japanese investor. A parade of Japanese automotive suppliers has followed. Announced in December, the GEAR award was presented to YKK in a Jan. 19 ceremony in Macon.
“The 2021 GEAR award for supplier of the year recognizes companies that are good corporate stewards,” said Andrew Capezzuto, chief administrative officer and general counsel of GDEcD, who presented the award in Macon.
Solvay, a Belgian chemical company not immediately associated with the auto sector, is another foreign subsidiary with a growing impact on Georgia. Solvay’s Alpharetta-based specialty polymers division provides plastics that can withstand extreme temperatures, high pressures and corrosive chemicals — perfect for automotive applications.
The GEAR Innovation and Emerging Technology Award recognized the introduction of Solvay’s Amodel Supreme polymer, designed for the high-voltage environments of electric vehicles, a segment where Georgia is making a strong global investment push. The similar Amodel BIOS thermoplastic is made partially from biological materials and is produced using renewable energy.
Solvay was slated to be a key stop on Belgian Princess Astrid’s tour of Georgia during a trade mission she was set to bring here last October. The Solvay global CEO was scheduled to fly over for the event. While the mission has been postponed until June due to COVID-19, a new itinerary has yet to be released.
Other suppliers taking home GEAR awards include Comer-based SMI Composites in the 199 employees or fewer category; Douglas-based Rock Solid Cargo for transportation equipment manufacturer of the year and Nivel Manufacturing in Cairo for the corporate citizenship award.
The GEAR awards began in 2016, with foreign companies perennial posting positive showings and in some years dominating most of the field.
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