HSAA expansion to bring 100 jobs to Enterprise

The city of Enterprise will soon welcome 100 new jobs to the area thanks to an expansion of HS Automotive Alabama.

City officials and HSAA executives gathered May 13 to celebrate the groundbreaking of a new $12 million 65,000 square-foot facility at Yancey Parker Industrial Park.

The expansion of the company, which manufactures weather stripping, tubing and pressure hoses for Hyundai, Kia and Chrysler, is an example of the growing car manufacturing industry in Alabama.

Hwaeseung Rubber & Automotive President and Chief Executive Officer Daehyun Baek said it seems like yesterday he was in Enterprise breaking ground on HSAA's first facility.

The groundbreaking ceremony was 10 years ago, and since then, the company has continued to grow through the years, expanding once before in 2006.

Baek and HSAA CEO Harry Kim celebrated those 10 years of success with the company's 270 employees May 11 with a luncheon at the Enterprise Civic Center.

"The relationship between HSAA and Enterprise, Ala. has been filled with success," Baek said. "The dedication and effort of the HSAA employees has turned HSAA into one of the premier automotive suppliers in North America.

"HSAA is excited to start the next chapter of success by breaking ground for our second plant in Enterprise," Baek said. "The new plant will house the post-processing for weather strips."

The Enterprise plant will play a vital role in the continued growth of HSR&A, he said.

Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley said Alabama is home to the best employees in the world who possess an outstanding work ethic that provides a positive business climate for companies like HSAA to not only locate in the state, but prosper as well.

Lt. Gov. Kay Ivey said less than 20 years ago Alabama did not produce one automobile, and today Alabama ranks among the top automobile producers in the country.

Ivey attributes the growth to the strong relationships between the state and companies like HSAA.

"We certainly appreciate and value your commitment and your partnership and we appreciate your continued investment," Ivey said addressing HSAA executives. "We are committed to maintaining and improving the sound pro-business climate we have in Alabama."

Creating a favorable place for businesses to locate and continuing to provide an excellent workforce is a key to growth in Alabama.

"As long as we continue to make the state of Alabama business-friendly and make sure we are concentrating on increasing private sector jobs, we will continue to grow and prosper," said House Speaker Mike Hubbard.

Hubbard also said plans are already in the making for continued expansion in Enterprise.

Enterprise Mayor Kenneth Boswell said the American dream is alive and well in Alabama and in Enterprise.

"We're going to keep it alive. We're going to keep working and working 24 hours a day to go out and recruit to keep people working in our state," Boswell said. "(A job) allows an individual basic needs, to have a better quality of life, instills pride in our people, confidence and a sense of need. HS Automotive has played a large role in that."

HSAA first broke ground in Enterprise back in 2003, and officially started operating in May 2005. The company began as a 50,000 square-foot facility and is now in a 218,000 square feet facility.

In 10 years, the company has grown from sales of $4 million to an estimated $150 million in sales in 2013.

HSAA in Enterprise is the first Hwaeseung Rubber & Automotive facility located in North America.