Arab, Alabama - HFI in Arab has added back some employees who were laid off and is getting ready to get extremely busy as Honda begins cranking out more Odyssey minivans, and James Wessel at Brindlee Mountain Fire Apparatus says steady fire truck sales have boosted employment there to 40.
Both companies are celebrating their 10th anniversary in the area.
HFI makes headrests and armrests that go in Honda Odyssey minivans and Ridgeline trucks.
General manager Nick Williams said the company is beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Honda and TS Tech, which HFI sells to, have announced a production increase that will begin in September, Williams said.
The company threw a 10th anniversary celebration Saturday before the busy days ahead get here.
"We didn't want to pass up on the opportunity to celebrate our accomplishments over the past 10 years," Williams said.
Honda and other Japanese auto manufacturers have seen a large downturn in their business first because of the economy, then the earthquake and tsunami that hit the mainland earlier this year.
"That really impacted us here in Arab," Williams said.
HFI's Arab plant is one of five that is owned by corporate headquarters in Columbus, Ohio. The others are in Ohio and Mexico.
The Arab plant employs about 75 people. More than 2,500 are employed company-wide.
To make it through the downturn, HFI rotated crews with one crew working a week, then taking off a week.
"We also had people to take voluntary layoffs," Williams said. "They have all sacrificed, but, like I said, we are beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. We will be back at full production in September. We'll probably be working overtime, too."
In 10 years in Arab, HFI has produced more than 13 million headrests, with about 11 million of those going in the Odyssey.
"We also produced some for the Honda Accord and some Subarus," Williams said. "We've also produced about 2.6 million armrests and 3 million other components."
On Saturday, Arab Mayor Gary Beam and members of the city council joined HFI employees for a luncheon celebrating 10 years.
Also making the trip from Ohio were the company's president, chief financial officer, vice president of operations and the corporation's quality manager.
"We had a great day, and everyone had a good time," Williams said.
Fire trucks
When he started Brindlee Mountain Fire Apparatus 10 years ago, Wessel didn't really think he'd still be selling fire trucks 10 years later.
"God had a bigger plan than anything my mind could conceive," Wessel said.
His company is having a celebration picnic Saturday night.
"In the 10 years we've been in business, we've sold about 1,600 fire trucks," Wessel said.
BMFA, located on U.S. 231 just south of Morgan City, buys used fire trucks from fire departments all over the world, refurbishes them and sells them.
"We've sold trucks to Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Madagascar and all over the United States and Canada," Wessel said. "We've delivered them to Alaska, and we have driven several to British Columbia.
"Hawaii is the only state we haven't sold a fire truck in," he added.
Wessel said local fire departments in North Alabama have really supported BMFA.
"We've sold trucks to Arab, Guntersville, Ruth, Brindlee Mountain and Four-C," he said.
BMFA loaned Ruth VFD a truck for a little more than a year.
"They are a group of dedicated firefighters out there, and they had some challenges, and we wanted to help," Wessel said. "They are a great group."
When Wessel started the company, he had one full-time.
"In the beginning, I was part time," he said. "My first full-time employee was Eric Whisenant, and he's still here. A short while later, I hired Tim White, and he's still here."
Whisenant is a technician and White is vice president of operations. Both are members of the Brindlee Mountain Volunteer Fire Department.
BMFA now has 40 employees.
"We've seen a lot of growth," Wessel said.
The first sale 10 years ago was to Allgood Fire Department in Blount County.
"We got that truck back last year as a trade-in," Wessel said. "We now have it loaned out to a needy fire department in Jackson County. They were excited to get it, and we are excited we could do it."
His inventory on day one was one fire truck. Today, he has about 80 in stock.
"It has really been a blast," Wessel said. "We've had so much fun doing this - working in Morgan City with these people. It's been a wonderful 10 years. The community, the fire departments and the team here have all been a blessing."
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