Busks
High-Tech Israelis
Aiming At Michigan
ERIC D. BAUM SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS
I
sraeli manufacturers are
launching a major pilot pro-
gram positioned to attract bil-
lions of shekels in global
industrial work.
The Association of Auto Parts
Producers is a new, private Is-
raeli organization committed to
promote 20 charter Israeli firms
to Michigan-based automakers
and other world-class companies.
"This association will help
penetrate U.S. auto companies
in various ways. It will be easier
for us to communicate with our
customers who are beginning to
realize Israeli technology is great
and our industry is growing,"
says Micha Amster, president of
Nazareth-based Metalor 2000.
Mr. Amster, an Auto Parts
Producers Association board
member, says the function of the
group is twofold. First, the asso-
ciation will serve as a ready di-
rectory of Israeli firms for
prospective customers who cur-
rently outsource contracts to for-
eign companies.
Secondly, and even more im-
portant, member firms will be re-
quired to adhere to QS-2000, an
international measure of parts
quality devised by Ford, GM and
Chrysler. That will enable the
companies to quickly locate the
right Israeli company for a spe-
cific project without worrying
about quality.
Mr. Amster already antici-
pates $3 million in new growth
for his company, which special-
towards contributing to Israel's
overall economic independence.
Alan Juris, executive director
of American Technion Society in
the Detroit area, believes Michi-
gan companies will trim future
operating expenses as a result
of new, cost-effective technology
that will be supplied, in part, by
association members.
"It's in everybody's best in-
terest to remain competitive in
a market with rapidly shrinking
margins," Mr. Juris says.
When an auto company saves
money, it adds to the bottom line
of the state's economy, he added.
Mr. Traison believes that
the link between Michigan and
Israel is vital for both economies.
Southeast Michigan remains
Israel's chief corridor to the
American automotive industry.
"When an Israeli company
needs a desk and a phone in the
United States, it comes to Michi-
gan," he says.
For information about the
association, call Neil Jackson at
the America-Israel Chamber of
Commerce at (810) 646-1948. ❑
izes in plastics injection mold- as a catalyst for creating more
jobs to place streams of skilled
ing, as a result of the group's
exposure to global manufactur- immigrants flowing into Israel
from Russia.
ers.
"We feel it will give Israeli
America-Israel Chamber
businesses an edge
of Commerce of
to start exporting
Michigan President
more high-tech
Michael Traison, who
parts and employ
helped spearhead the
more highly skilled
project, sees the asso-
people," says Mr.
ciation as a critical
Dagan.
step in carving out a
Deutsch-Dagan
healthy niche for the
manufactures gear
Israeli market in the
box sleeves that GM
scramble of develop-
will use in its power
ing countries jockey-
trains and trans-
ing for position in a
mission systems.
booming global mar-
Mr. Dagan as-
ket.
sumed the chal-
He intends to use
lenge of transferring
the association to
his manufacturing
market Metalor 2000 Michael Traison is linking
talent from military
and other members to Israeli and Michigan firms.
goods to auto parts
companies like GM,
Allied Signal, Opel and Volk- about six years ago. The trick for
Mr. Dagan was to conform to the
swagen.
Ashkelon-based Deutsch-Da- competitive pricing of auto con-
gan President C. Dagan expects tracts from a lavish military bud-
his bottom line to double by 1998 get while keeping quality
as a result of the association's ex- standards high.
Today, he aims his efforts
posure. He sees the association
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