VERSAILLES, Ky. (April 18, 2014) —Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. will merge its two U.S. industrial product manufacturing and sales subsidiaries, YH America Inc. and SAS Rubber Co., to form Yokohama Industries Americas Inc.
The two subsidiaries, active in hose, hose assemblies and automotive parts, had combined sales of about $214.8 million and employ about 1,200. The unified subsidiary's head office will be in Versailles, where up to now YH America has had a plant.
YH America also has a plant in Easley, S.C., and is building one in Aguascalientes, Mexico, scheduled to begin production in fall 2014. SAS's production site is located in Painesville, Ohio.
Yokohama Industries Americas focuses on the automotive parts business, concentrating on air conditioning and power steering hoses in North and Central America. The firm said the group will expand into South America to build a strong presence throughout the entire Americas.
YH America assembles and sells hoses, metal fittings and windshield sealants for the automotive industry, among other industrial products.
SAS Rubber produces automotive hoses and other industrial-use rubber products.