- Businesses combine 100+ years’ experience in U.S. steel, auto industries
- Investment tops $40 million and creates 40 new jobs’
Madison, AL. (August 6, 2021) – With more than a century’s worth of combined know-how in the U.S. steel and auto industries, SteelSummit Holdings, Toyota Tsusho America, Inc. (“TAI”), and Southern Mobility Products are celebrating a first-of-its-kind collaboration in a new U.S. joint venture, Madison Metal Processing (“MMP”), located near Huntsville, Alabama.
Beginning later this year, MMP will supply steel blanks – the precursor to automotive surface body parts – for up to 300,000 vehicles produced at the new Mazda – Toyota joint automotive plant. MMP will also provide steel products to other automotive suppliers.
The company’s all-new $40 million, 110,000 sq. ft. facility in Limestone County is bringing 40 new jobs to the region. Full production is planned for mid-2022, with trial production already underway.
“Toyota Tsusho is a major player in the global auto supply chain, and its new collaboration with an arm of Sumitomo Corporation of Americas unites two companies that are giants in their respective industries,” Governor Kay Ivey said. “This collaboration is another exciting development in the growth of the robust supplier network emerging in North Alabama to support the Mazda Toyota Manufacturing auto assembly facility.”
As a full-service steel processing service center, MMP will specialize in blanking and warehousing steel products including hot rolled steel, cold rolled steel, and exposed and coated steel products. The company estimates it will process as much as 5,000 tons of steel per month onsite at the new Huntsville facility.
“At MMP, we are committed to providing steel solutions that exceed our customers’ expectations,” said Kirk Lewis, chairman and president of Madison Metal Processing and chairman of Southern Mobility Products. “Together with the members of our venture, and the added benefit of our collective acumen, MMP will set the bar for quality in every steel product we deliver.”
“SteelSummit is very excited to collaborate with Southern Mobility Products and Toyota Tsusho to form MMP,” said Todd Rollins, CEO and President of SteelSummit Holdings. “MMP’s new state-of-the-art blanking operation provides us with the opportunity to support Mazda and Toyota’s new auto assembly operation and expands SteelSummit’s existing presence in North Alabama.”
“At Toyota Tsusho, we value meaningful business relationships that get results for our customers and benefit local communities at the same time,” said Toyota Tsusho America group vice president and Metals division head, Shawn O’Connor. “We believe our investment in MMP will be good not just for business, but for the Huntsville region. We are pleased to expand Toyota Tsusho’s footprint in Alabama.”
The collaboration of the three companies brings considerable expertise to the region, with SteelSummit’s 36-year history in the U.S. steel industry and TAI’s 68+ years in America.
Family Ties
Family-owned and operated, MMP’s top leader, Kirk Lewis, is a Detroit, Mich., native who previously served as deputy mayor and chief of staff for the city of Detroit. Lewis has held executive leadership roles in finance, operations, and sales in the auto industry for more than 25 years and comes from entrepreneurial parents who once owned several Detroit area restaurants.
His son, Joe Lewis, is following in the family tradition as MMP’s business development manager.
In addition to MMP, the Lewis family oversees similar steel operations in Mississippi and Kentucky.
About Madison Metal Processing – Madison Metal Processing is a full service, steel processing service center, which specializes in blanking and warehousing in North America. Our product range includes hot rolled steel, cold rolled steel, exposed and coated steel products. As a Tier 1 supplier and a Tier 2 and Tier 3 supplier to many other automotive suppliers, our major customers are within the automotive industry. MMP’s major suppliers include domestic and foreign integrated steel mills. For more information, visit: WWW.MADISONMETALPROCESSING.COM
About Toyota Tsusho America, Inc. – With over 60 years in America, Toyota Tsusho America, Inc. (“TAI”) is a multi-market, multi-business enterprise with expertise in exporting and importing, new manufacturing, intermediate goods processing and logistics in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean. With a team of nearly 5,000 and 71 locations across North America, TAI strives for comprehensive excellence by cultivating a vibrant culture of creativity, reliability, accountability, flexibility and teamwork to activate the full potential of all employees, customers, suppliers and communities. For more information, visit: WWW.TAIAMERICA.COM
About SteelSummit Holdings – SteelSummit Holdings, a subsidiary of Sumitomo Corporation of Americas, is a leading flat rolled metals service center in the United States. The company is headquartered in Murfreesboro, Tennessee and operates metal processing facilities through its SteelSummit and Magic Steel companies in Tennessee, Alabama, Ohio and Michigan. Its Summit Global Trading company is a leading global importer of flat rolled metal products. SteelSummit is a customer centric organization that strives for excellence and value creation for its customers, employees, co-venturers and communities. For more information, visit: STEELSUMMIT.COM
