CTS Expanding Asian Facility

Elkhart-based CTS Corporation says it plans to nearly double the capacity of a manufacturing site in Thailand, reports Inside INdiana Business. The company says the expansion of the facility near Bangkok should be completed by mid-2011.

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Production to Move from Sweden to Elkhart

Dometic Corp. is relocating some production from Sweden to Elkhart, Ind., following preliminary approval of a 10-year property tax phase-in plan by the city council, reports Inside INdiana Business. With the move come 241 jobs.

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CTS to Provide Telecommunication Parts For China

CTS Corporation, which designs and manufactures electronic components, announced it has been selected to provide a precision oven-controlled crystal oscillator (OCXO) by a leading Chinese telecommunications provider. The miniaturized OCXO will be used in TD-SCDMA wireless communications equipment, including base stations.

The Chinese telecommunications company is a major supplier of mobile telecommunications systems, microelectronics, communications access and service for the Chinese market. Manufacturing will begin in June 2009 at CTS’ Tianjin, China facility with initial expected revenues of several million dollars over the next three years.

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CTS Receives Contract From German Firm

Elkhart-based CTS Corp. says it has been contracted to produce accelerator pedals for a German car manufacturer, reports Inside INdiana Business.

The eight-year agreement could be worth up to $9 million. Deliveries are expected to start in early 2011 and be used in a new family car sold in Europe.

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CTS Corp. Lands Japanese Contract

Elkhart-based CTS Corp. says its automotive products unit has been awarded production programs from a Japanese manufacturer for a new accelerator pedal module, reports Inside INdiana Business.

It will be built in North American and Europe starting in late 2010. CTS says total revenue from the deals is expected to be more than $24 million over the five year life of the programs.

Zhongshan lands Elkhart manufacturing operation

Elkhart-based CTS Corp. is preparing to begin manufacturing operations in Zhongshan, located in the Guangdong Province of the People's Republic of China, according to Inside INdiana Business.

The new facility replaces a smaller operation in nearby Dongguan. CTS will manufacture automotive products and electronic components and sensors.

Darfur to Indiana

"As many as 300 people originally from Darfur are living in Fort Wayne, with others scattered across smaller Indiana cities like Elkhart, South Bend and Goshen. Together, they form one of the largest concentrations of Darfuri in the United States."

This is an excerpt from an exceptional article in Monday's New York Times about the ability of the Hoosier Heartland to welcome yet another set of scarred refugees. Here's another snippet:

"'Cities like New York are not attractive for our beginners, too busy,' said Nourain Basheir, 41, one of the first Darfuri to settle in Fort Wayne in 1996. 'This community welcomed us cheerfully and respectfully. They understand our people.'

"Despite Indiana’s reputation among Americans as a monolithic slice of the country, in parts of Africa it is known — mostly by word of mouth — as diverse, welcoming and affordable."

After Darfur, Starting Anew in the Midwest
By SUSAN SAULNY
The New York Times
Published: April 2, 2007
"In Indiana, people fleeing the violence of Darfur find an unlikely new home that is diverse and welcoming."

Read the rest here.


UPDATE:
Almost a month after The New York Times writes about all the people from Darfur living in Fort Wayne, The Indianapolis Star finally notices. See 29 April 2007 -- at least as long as the paper leaves the link active!

Foreign Firms Invest More in Indiana

Inside INdiana Business reports today on two new international connections for Indiana companies.

In the first item, it says that Switzerland-based Leman Cardiovascular subsidiary Hancock Jaffe Laboratories is partnering with Bloomington's Cook Medical to develop products in the field of tissue engineering and processing for minimally invasive cardiovascular products.

The second notes that CTS Automotive Products in Elkhart was awarded a production program by a Korean based vehicle manufacturer for its Seat Belt Tension Sensor (BTS). With production starting in the spring of 2007, the CTS Seat Belt Tension Sensor will be integrated in seat belt assemblies for small SUVs built in Mexico for sale in North America.