Japan-based NTN Corporation, together with Takao Kogyo Co., Ltd. and Neturen Co., Ltd. will construct the second plant of NTK Precision Axle Corporation, as part of a joint-venture in Anderson, Indiana.

According to company officials the $15 million, more than 1.74 million square foot, plant is needed to increase production capacity of driveshaft components in U.S.A. Construction on the new facility, which is expected to create 200 jobs, is scheduled to begin in April 2017, and mass-production will start in April 2018.

“With continuing strong demand for automobiles in U.S.A., the new plant of NTK is to be constructed for the purpose of increasing capacity of the turning and heat treatment processes for shafts that are key components of driveshafts, “ NTK officials said. “The new plant will cover turning and heat treatment processes for shafts, and will be constructed on the western side of NTN Driveshaft Anderson, Inc., the finished product of driveshaft plant that was established in 2015.”

“In addition to production that has been covered entirely in U.S.A., construction of the new plant will also consolidate production of shafts that had been sourced from overseas and externally. This will make products more cost competitive, as well as accelerate transformation for “NTN driveshafts' achieving World's No. 1 customer satisfaction level” by ensuring a more stable supply system,” the company added.