Officials celebrate Chinese acquisition in Michigan

In a year when US political candidates are international trade for the loss of American jobs, federal, state, local and Chinese officials were on hand in Warren, Michigan, to celebrate the acquisition of a 79-year-old auto supplier by a Chinese company that will add jobs.

The gathering on Monday marked the takeover of Paslin Co by China's Wanfeng Auto Holdings. Wanfeng is a robotics manufacturer serving the die cast automation market. Paslin specializes in the robotic automation of automotive welding assembly lines.

Paslin has been operating in Macomb County since 1937 and has four facilities in the county. It had recently been owned by a private equity firm, which sold it to Wanfeng last month for an undisclosed sum.

"We have over 700 employees at our facilities near Warren, Michigan. We plan on hiring an additional 150 by the end of the year. There will be no job consolidations or losses as a result of this transaction," said Kirk Goins, the CEO of Paslin, who will stay on to lead the company.

"We go from having a private-equity firm as an owner to a strategic owner that wants to stay in this business for a long time. Paslin wants to expand globally, especially in China and Asia. Having a Chinese owner and partner can be an advantage for us," he told China Daily. "They also want to expand globally and especially in the North American market. We have expansion plans for North America that we can now implement."

Tommy Wu, CEO of the Wanfeng Technology Group, told the Detroit Free Press that the sale will mean increased trade opportunities for both companies. "This is a happy marriage," he said. "We are confident the combined force of Paslin and Wengfong will be a great organization."

"One of the top priorities for Paslin will be to establish a better R&D facility to promote the automation technical innovation," he said. In 2013, Wanfeng purchased Meridian Canada, the world's leading supplier of magnesium alloy auto parts.

Chen Ailian, board chairman of the Zhejiang-headquartered company, said at the ceremony that with the participation of Paslin, "(Wanfeng's) robot industry will soon exceed $10 billion in terms of the production scale."

paulwelitzkin@chinadailyusa.com