Cooper Standard sealingMexico - The company has started building a new rubber mixing facility in Aguascalientes. The plant represents an investment of US$11m, covers an area of 100,000 sq. ft, and will employ around 100 people when operating at full capacity.

"The opening of our new in-house mixing facility in Mexico is an important step in our overall localisation strategy to support the volume growth in the region," commented Bill Pumphrey, president, North America, Cooper Standard. "With localised state-of-art mixing, we are able to provide complete vertical integration of critical rubber compounds to our facilities throughout Mexico."

Some of Cooper Standard's rubber-based products include sealings, fuel and brake lines, fluid transfer hoses and anti-vibration systems. Production at the new facility is expected to start in early 2019.

The company currently operates 13 rubber mixing facilities around the world and employs around 32,000 people. It recorded its best ever first quarter results at the start of 2018, with sales increasing by 7.2% compared to the same period in 2017.