According to a published report, Toyota Tsusho America Inc. has agreed to build a new plant to melt aluminum and supply a wheel manufacturer in Paris, KY. Toyota Tsusho America is the holding company for Most Inc., a secondary aluminum smelter in Troy, MO.

The Kentucky plant would be a joint development of Toyota Tsusho America and its Japanese parent, Toyota Tsusho Corp. A statemet by the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development describes the plant as a $9.2-million investment. It would occupy a 50,000-ft² site adjacent to CMC/CLA, the wheelmaker in Paris.

“Our long standing relationship with Toyota Tsusho ensures that Kentucky Smelting Technology will be a welcome addition to our community,” added Frank Bellafato, Chairman and CEO, CMC/CLA. “KST will be performing a vital operation for CMC/CLA in providing molten aluminum for our casting operations. We are expecting to expand our production of aluminum wheels in September to one million five hundred thousand per year. With KST providing the aluminum, CMC/CLA can focus our activities on our core business of casting and finishing aluminum wheels.”