FLAGSTAFF — UACJ Automotive Whitehall Industries, a leading supplier of precision extruded aluminum automotive components and assemblies, has selected Flagstaff as the new home for their fourth production plant. UACJ Whitehall will take over a portion of the former Walgreen’s distribution center and will manufacture parts for electric vehicles and other automotive companies.
“We are so excited to welcome Whitehall Industries to Flagstaff,” said Mayor Paul Deasey. “They are a cutting-edge company that exemplifies Flagstaff’s character as a city of innovation and sustainability. We look forward to the immense positive impact they will have for our community.”
UACJ Whitehall plans to invest as much as $60 million dollars with this new expansion and is anticipated to bring 120 high-paying jobs to the region over the next year and 350 within five years. The average wage at the company will be 60% higher than Coconino County’s per capita income. The company expects begin operations towards the end of April.
The city’s Business Attraction Manager, Jack Fitchett stated “UACJ Whitehall is an excellent fit for our community. One of our goals as an economic development team is to attract employers that provide high quality jobs and opportunities for our community. I would like to thank our partners, Coconino County, the Economic Collaborative of Northern Arizona (ECoNA), and Kinney Construction Services (KCS) for successfully collaborating to attract this great new employer to our city.”
Whitehall Industries began in 1974 manufacturing precision components for the copying and printing industry. It began aluminum extrusion operations for the auto industry in 2001. In 2016 it was acquired by UACJ Corporation, a Japanese-based aluminum manufacturer. The company currently has plants in Ludington, Michigan, Paducah, Kentucky and San Miguel de Allende, Mexico.