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Until recently, Mexico has been something of a backwater
in the die casting world, despite a large population (approaching
100 million) and a growing consumer economy. Skilled die builders
have been hard to find, and the secondary metals industry
has been undeveloped.
Today, however, it may be that a "critical mass" has been
reached. Die castings shipments are forecast to grow by about
20% over the next five years, as the manufacturing industry
as a whole expands. Volkswagen, with a huge assembly
plant in Puebla, expects to increase output by 200,000 units
per year. (Read a description of the high-tech
Puebla plant on the website of their IT supplier, Enterasys.)
The U.S. Big Three are expanding their operations in
Mexico. Just recently Toyota began talking about building
an assembly plant.
The largest die casting group in Mexico is Auma, comprised
of two aluminum and zinc plants, one located hear Mexico City
and the other in Chihuahua, mainly serving the auto industry.
They operate over 70 machines. A more recent arrival is Leggett
& Platt, the U.S. company, who operate two relatively
large plants, one in Saltillo
and the other in Chihuahua.
MABE, one of the larger appliances manufacturers, operates
a large captive plant in Saltillo.
Read separate report on overall
metalcasting industry in Mexico.
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