An automotive parts supplier owned by Japan-based Tokai Rika, TRIN, Inc., will invest $19 million to expand its production center in Ashley, Indiana, with plans to create up to 75 new jobs by 2016.

The company will upgrade its manufacturing capabilities and add 46,000 square feet to its existing facility located at 803 H.L. Thompson Jr. Drive in Ashley, a town of about 1,000 residents, north of Fort Wayne, Indiana, along Interstate-69.

TRIN’s Ashley facility supplies electromechanical automotive switches and produces 22 million parts per year for Toyota manufacturing plants in Indiana, Kentucky, Texas and Canada. The company is one of four manufacturing facilities owned by Japan-based Tokai Rika, which employs more than 2,500 associates in North America.

TRIN, which currently has 134 full-time employees in Ashley, plans to begin hiring additional manufacturing and production associates next year. “Our growth can be attributed to the hard work by all of the TRAM Group associates with support from the local, county and state of Indiana,” said Christopher Bryant, director of operations at TRIN. “We value our partnership with the town of Ashley, DeKalb County and the state of Indiana. We are committed to growing this relationship by providing stable and sustainable employment for our present and future associates and to maintain our position as a responsible corporate citizen.”

“Indiana continues to benefit from the investment of several international OEMs such as Suburu, Toyota, Honda and Fiat,” said Governor Mitch Daniels. “TRIN joins the long list of automotive firms that have found Indiana’s logistics infrastructure and workforce to be the best in the nation.”

As an incentive, The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered TRIN, Inc. up to $455,000 in conditional tax credits and up to $95,000 in training grants based on the company’s job creation plans. These tax credits are performance-based, meaning until Hoosiers are hired, the company is not eligible to claim incentives. In addition, the town of Ashley will consider additional property tax abatement at the request of the DeKalb County Economic Development Partnership.

“The town of Ashley is very pleased that TRIN is expanding in the Ashley community,” said Randy McEntarfer, vice president of the Ashley Town Council. “We appreciate TRIN as a long time corporate partner and their trust and commitment to provide new opportunities and jobs to the Ashley community.”