AGS Sterling Heights Plater Back in Production
November, 2008

AGS is pleased to report that, after a shutdown of more than 5 years, the chrome plating line in its Sterling Heights, Michigan facility has been reopened and is in production. The line, which was mothballed during the restructuring of AGS’s predecessor company, recommenced production in July of 2008.

In anticipation of declining capacity in North America of capable chrome platers, AGS began, in mid-2007, to slowly make improvements to its Sterling Heights chrome plating line and the building in which the line is located. The spring of 2008 saw a flurry of activity as AGS fine-tuned processes, equipment and solutions in preparation for the in-sourcing of the chrome plating of the GM Colorado and Canyon rear bumpers, which AGS supplies to the GM Assembly Plant in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Full GM approval and production capability was achieved in mid-July, 2008 and full site approval for the chrome plating of Chrysler bumpers followed shortly thereafter in August, 2008.

Since that time, AGS Sterling Heights has won new business including the chrome plating of the GM Top Kick for Class 2 and Class 3 front bumpers which are sent into GM’s assembly plant in Flint, Michigan as well as a large motor home manufacturing plant in Indiana. AGS Sterling Heights is uniquely qualified to do this work, as this chrome plating facility has the benefit of very large plating tanks which are well suited to the plating of this very large bumper.

AGS is now also chrome plating its entire line of service bumpers for both GM and Chrysler in this renewed facility. AGS chrome plates Ford service bumpers here as well.

By reopening its Sterling Heights chrome plating facility, AGS anticipates being able to capitalize on its best in class reputation for chrome plating quality. AGS is the only North American chrome plater proficient at “press to plate” on almost all of its bumper production and its commitment to having the Sterling Heights plater 100% auxillary anode capable by the end of November, 2008 will further enhance that proficiency. For bumpers that AGS cannot press to plate due to the quality of the steel used to stamp those bumpers, Sterling Heights also has a polish house and in-house polishing capability, so that this activity, if required, can all be done under one roof.

The ideal location of the Sterling Heights facility in the heartland of the automotive industry, very close to General Motors and Chrysler assembly facilities, will enable AGS to deliver significant logistics savings to its chrome plating customers. In addition, the Sterling Heights facility has been set up to enable efficient and effective chrome plating of short runs and lower volume products, making this facility ideally suited to take on additional automotive service work and work for non-automotive applications as well.