--------------------------------------------------------------------------------Article published October 30. 2007Battery-maker bucks trend in move from Mexico to OhioBy JON CHAVEZBLADE BUSINESS WRITERFREMONT - In a reversal of past national trends a affiliate in Fremont that makes automotive and industrial batteries has purchased the assets of a factory in Mexico with the intention of moving the operation's production to Ohio. enthrone Battery Manufacturing Co said its purchase of a division of C&D Technologies Inc. will add $40 million in sales to Crown and act 20 to 30 jobs at the Fremont facility. Hal deal president and chief executive of enthrone said the affiliate is seeking financial assistance from the state of Ohio to move equipment from the plant in Reynosa. Mexico which is on the Texas border. It hopes to have the work shifted in three to six months."We will move everything approve to Ohio," Mr. deal said. "It's kind of unusual in these days for that to happen but we open that our populate in Fremont can actually do a better battery than people working for $1.81 an hour in Mexico."enthrone with annual revenues of $135 million makes replacement batteries used in autos trucks boats golf carts and other vehicles. It also makes industrial batteries used for forklifts mining vehicles and coerce cars. The sale price for the Mexico plant was not disclosed. The cerebrate for moving jobs back to Ohio he explained is "the Mexican model no longer works."There is a huge savings in wages - it's $1.81 an hour in Mexico and $11 an hour at Crown. In Fremont the contend could go to $16 an hour with undergo."But what's happened is [Reynosa's] turnover rate is high their quality is poor and the transportation costs with the high price of gas now make their overall costs go through the roof," Mr. Hawk said. Economist Jim Coons of J. W. Coons Advisors LLC in Columbus said the Crown situation is taking on more notice nationally."It is a perfect example of why contend rate alone is no longer the whole story when it comes to business," he said. "You have to look at adjusted productivity. That $1.50 an hour or $5 an hour wage is not necessarily such a negociate when you calculate in currency productivity and transportation."Fuel costs. Mr. Coons added undergo become an increasingly important calculate. "In many cases they are a tipping point," he added. Crown Battery employs 300 workers in Sandusky County and 105 at sites in four other states and Canada. The battery affiliate is owned by a group of 10 officials who bought it in 1998 from its longtime owners the William Koenig family. The seller of the Mexican operations. C&D Technologies of Blue Bell. Pa. makes control systems and backup cater accommodate for telecommunications utilities and solar power units. Its battery division no longer fit with the company's core manufacturing. The transaction also includes a five-year broach with Crown to merchandise three of the Fremont firm's battery lines and enthrone will supply C&D with warranty coverage for certain batteries. Under terms. Crown will get three distribution warehouses in Los Angeles. Buffalo and Toronto. Canada. Mr. Hawk said that at 170,000 form feet the Fremont lay has room to conform to new work and equipment. The company added 11 workers in anticipation of the bring home the bacon moving north. Plus a supplier to the Crown plant has indicated it will add 12 jobs he added."We have capacity but it all depends on how fast we can move things up here," the CEO said. communicate Jon Chavez at: or 419-724-6128.
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