Tool Ventures International announced the expansion of its business into Huntsville's Chase Industrial Park. From left, Alabama Development Office Business Development Director David Hutchison; TVI president/CEO Don Mekkes; Huntsville Mayor Loretta Spencer; TVI Vice President/CFO Bryan Moria; Madison County Commission Chair Mike Gillespie; and Chamber of Commerce Director, Industrial Development and Existing Industry, Steve Finnell.

Tool Ventures International, a Grand Rapids, Michigan based company, announced plans to open a new service center in Huntsville to better meet the needs of its automotive customers. The new facility, a service center or “die hospital,” will employ eight to 10 new workers, most hired from the Huntsville area. The 12,000 square-foot plant is expected to be fully operational by July 2008.

“Huntsville is a perfect site for us,” said TVI President Don Mekkes. “We maintain very high customer service standards, and because many of our major automotive customers have plants nearby, this will improve our service delivery even more for them.”

TVI’s future plans include occupation of a 21,000 square-foot facility with full manufacturing capability by fall of 2008. The new plant will be located in Huntsville and will employ up to 25 workers by that time. Mekkes noted that TVI spent six months analyzing over 100 different markets for the expansion. Huntsville came out on top for a variety of reasons, including its central location for customers, efficient over road access and easy access to air travel.

Chamber of Commerce Board Chair Evans Quinlivan indicated that the expansion is significant to the community as the automotive industry continues to expand not only in Huntsville and Madison County, but across the state.

“It is obviously very exciting for us to see continued growth in our automotive manufacturing industry,” Quinlivan said. “These are the kinds of high-paying automotive manufacturing jobs that are good for our community.”

Tool Ventures International has more than 30 years of expertise and experience in building customer-tailored progressive dies, line dies and transfer dies for the automotive, appliance and furniture industries. Major automotive clients include Honda, Nissan, Toyota and Magna Cosma, as well as a number of automotive suppliers.

Don Nalley, who serves as the Chamber’s vice chair for economic development, praised the company for taking the initiative to move closer to its customers.

“The automotive industry continues its migration into Alabama and to neighboring states all over the South, TVI is expanding its operation to Huntsville to meet its customer needs. And when many of the customers are located in and around the Tennessee Valley, it becomes a very strategically sound business decision to be close to the customer,” Nalley said.

Huntsville Mayor Loretta Spencer said the company is well respected in the automotive industry.

“TVI has an impressive list of customers showing the high standard they maintain for their products,” Spencer said. “We appreciate very much the investment TVI is making in Huntsville which brings more opportunities for good-paying jobs for Huntsville residents and the surrounding areas. We are very honored to be chosen for this service center.”

Madison County Commission Chair said the news was good for Chase Industrial Park and all of Madison County.

“We are obviously pleased that Chase Industrial Park was attractive to a company like Tool Ventures International,” Gillespie said. “As we continue to diversify, this is exactly the kind of industry we are seeking and we could not be happier that they chose Madison County to locate their business.”

Although the number of Michigan’s tool and die shops has steadily declined since 2000, TVI continues to expand. The company recently purchased a new 35,000 square foot plant in Michigan, with plans to move its current work force to the new facility by mid-summer 2008, and add about 25 new jobs.

TVI officials also thanked the Alabama Development Office for its assistance in helping the company expand to Alabama. David Hutchison, director of business development for ADO, said the company’s expansion into Alabama could be the catalyst for the next wave of growth in the state’s automotive service and manufacturing industry.

“This is great for the Huntsville community, but it is also great for all of Alabama. They are filling a gap that we have in Alabama in the automotive industry,” Hutchison said.

The company’s continued success is due to a commitment to meet customer needs through dedicated craftsmanship and timely deliveries. Sales have doubled from 2004 to 2007.

TVI is an ISO 9001 certified company.