Henniges Automotive Announces Plans to Add 200 Jobs

Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon was in Franklin County this week to help announce a major investment by a manufacturing firm here.

On Tuesday, Nixon and officials with Henniges Automotive announced that the company was making a $5 million capital investment at its New Haven manufacturing facility that would result in 200 jobs being created.

The company, which supplies part primarily to General Motors and Nissan, will be adding an additional production line at its facility as part of a new contract to supply sealing components to various GM plants.

Nixon appeared at the plant along with company leaders, employees and local community leaders.

“The American auto industry continues to thrive here in Missouri, and across our state, great companies like Henniges Automotive are creating jobs and growing our economy,” Gov. Nixon said. “This $5 million capital investment by Henniges demonstrates how we are continuing to expand and strengthen our network of auto suppliers. It also goes hand in hand with other good news Missouri has seen on the automotive front in the past year, including Ford and GM making a combined investment of $1.5 billion to create 3,200 new jobs at their plants in Claycomo and Wentzville.”

Henniges Automotive currently employs approximately 260 workers in New Haven, where the company manufactures automotive sealing system components. The company will be supplying its sealing products for GMC, Cadillac and Chevrolet full-size pickup trucks and SUVs.

The company also is purchasing new equipment, including molding presses and robotic coating systems and plans to hire 200 new employees over the next 12 to18 months.

“Two years ago, we came together in a bipartisan fashion to pass the Missouri Manufacturing Jobs Act,” Nixon said. “Today, we’re continuing to see it pay off with new investments, new jobs and new opportunities for Missourians.”

The state of Missouri helped make Henniges Automotive’s employment growth possible through the authorization of a package of economic incentives, which the company may be eligible to receive if it meets strict program criteria.