Released on March 24, 2011

J.L. French Automotive Castings Inc., Sheboygan, Wis., announced it has been awarded several new contracts by the Ford Motor Co., Detroit, and will invest $18 million into its Sheboygan operations to accommodate the work.

“These programs will support over 100 J.L. French jobs when they get to full volume,” said Tim Kellner, vice president of human resources.

The aluminum diecaster said in a press release it most recently was awarded the new Ford six-speed front wheel drive transmission case and related converter housing. The products will be mated to Ford’s new inline four-cylinder engines and will be used in vehicles like the Escape, Fusion, Edge and Explorer.

J.L. French expects to begin production on the parts in its Sheboygan operations in June 2011 and is projected to ramp up to 700,000 units per year by 2013. The transmission represents approximately 30% of all transmissions to be produced by Ford.

Last year, J.L. French was awarded three rear wheel drive transmission cases that are being cast at the company’s Gateway Avenue plant. The rear wheel drive transmission cases will be used in the Mustang and F-150 models, among others. Production on the parts started in September 2010 and will escalate to full volume by the third quarter of 2011.

“These programs are strategically important to J.L. French as we reposition the company into becoming a world-class medium to large aluminum die cast and machining supplier,” said Tom Musgrave, J.L. French’s chairman, president and chief executive officer.

In addition to its two manufacturing facilities in Sheboygan, J.L. French operates facilities in Glasgow, Ky., and Ansola, Spain, as well as a joint venture in China.