Joint Venture Madison Metal Processing Plant Opens

MADISON — With more than a century’s worth of combined know-how in the U.S. steel and auto industries, Steel Summit Holdings, Toyota Tsusho America, and Southern Mobility Products are celebrating a first-of-its-kind collaboration in a new U.S. joint venture – Madison Metal Processing.

According to a news release, MMP will supply steel blanks – the precursor to automotive surface body parts – for up to 300,000 vehicles produced at the Mazda Toyota Manufacturing plant. MMP will also provide steel products to other automotive suppliers. 

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According to the release, the company’s $40 million, 110,000 square-foot facility in Limestone County is creating 40 jobs. 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,” Gov. Kay Ivey said.

“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 our partners and the added benefit of our collective acumen, MMP will set the bar for quality in every steel product we deliver.”

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 at the new facility. 

“SteelSummit is very excited to partner with Southern Mobility Products and Toyota Tsusho to form MMP,” said Todd Rollins, CEO and president of Murfreesboro, Tenn.,-based Steel Summit Holdings. “MMP’s new state-of-the-art blanking operation provides us with the opportunity to support Mazda Toyota’s new auto assembly operation and expands SteelSummit’s existing presence in North Alabama.”

The collaboration of the three companies brings considerable expertise to the region, with Steel Summit’s 36-year history in the U.S. steel industry and TAI’s nearly 70 years in America. 

“At Toyota Tsusho, we value meaningful partnerships 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.”