WEFA is a leading manufacturer of extrusion tools based in Germany. The group already supplies hydro companies for precision tubes all over the world. The plant in Cedar Springs is the first plant outside Europe for WEFA.

Jon Veenstra, Head of Hydro Aluminum Cedar Tools, has been appointed Managing Director of the new company - WEFA Cedar Inc. The location remains. Cedar Tools employs highly qualified people and the 12 employees are offered a job in the new company.

Hydro has operated tool manufacturing in Cedar Springs for 15 years. It was taken over in 1994 in order to be able to supply the precision tube systems in North America with extrusion tools and the neighboring facility of Automotive Structures in the Netherlands with high-tech tools.

The facility was part of Hydro's automotive business. Sector manager Salvator Biosca explains that the business has become too small to be a sustainable unit in Hydro: "We have examined many options and consider WEFA to be the best future owner."

Veenstra reports that the new owner has the technology and expertise to grow. "We have a very good team here and I am delighted that we have managed to find a way to create jobs and a new future for the employees."

"It's a win-win situation and it's always a good result," said Veenstra.

The headquarters of WEFA and two of the four production facilities are located in Singen in southern Germany. The two other locations are in the Czech Republic and Switzerland. The group employs around 150 people and had sales of around 25 million euros in 2008.

WEFA was founded in 1972 as a subsidiary of the then aluminum company Alusuisse.

Hydro is the world leader in aluminum solutions for heat exchangers for the automotive and other industries, including air conditioning.