Denso, a leading global supplier of advanced technology systems and components, recently announced it will expand its 40,000 square-meter (430,500 square feet) facility in Kitakyushu, Japan, by approximately 22,000 square meters (237,000 square feet). The new investment will total approximately 20 billion yen (approximately US$162 million) by fiscal 2010. Construction for the expansion is scheduled to begin in August and be completed in March 2008. Production start is scheduled for May 2008.

According to the company’s press release, with this expansion Denso Manufacturing Kitakyushu will begin producing fuel pump modules and windshield wiper links, and increase production volumes of its current products including air conditioning units, injector components for diesel common rail fuel injection systems, and engine cooling modules. The company also will start manufacturing resin housings for air conditioning units, components currently purchased externally.

"We decided to enhance our production capabilities in Kitakyushu, responding to growing vehicle production in the Northern Kyushu area," said Nobuaki Katoh, senior managing director in charge of Denso's Thermal System Business Group. Sales for DENSO Kitakyushu are expected to increase from 19.4 billion yen (approximately US$157 million) in fiscal 2006 to approximately 48 billion yen (approximately US$389 million) in fiscal 2010. The number of employees is expected to increase from the current approximately 610 to approximately 1,400 by fiscal 2010.