Katowice Econ. Zone gets $20 million Tenneco investment

Tenneco Automotive, the world's largest manufacturer of car suspension elements, will build a $20 million production facility in the Katowice Special Economic Zone (KSSE), producing Monroe shock absorbers. Tennaco plans to reach full capacity in the plant by 2002, producing 3 million -3.5 million absorbers a year and employing 300 people. However, at the time of production launch, slated for September of this year, it will employ only 100 workers. Initially Tenneco will be exporting all of its output to automotive firms abroad, which will be installing them in their cars. Interestingly enough, however, the Opel plant located only a few kilometers from the new Tenneco factory will not buy its supplies there, as it is buying shock absorbers from Delphi. Tenneco already produces Walker car exhaust systems in Silesia. Worldwide the company employs 23,000 people and has revenues of $3.55 billion. (Puls Biznesu, p.10) T.J.