Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Automotive News
  • Automotive News Europe
  • Automotive News Mexico
  • Automotive News China
Subscribe
  • Subscribe
  • Newsletters
  • login
  • HOME
  • NEWS BY BRAND
    • Aston Martin
    • BMW
    • Daimler
    • Fiat Chrysler
    • Ford
    • General Motors
    • Honda
    • Hyundai
    • Mazda
    • Mitsubishi
    • Nissan
    • Subaru
    • Tata
    • Tesla
    • Toyota
    • Volkswagen
    • Volvo
    • Mini
    • Rolls Royce
    • Mercedes Benz
    • Smart
    • Alfa Romeo
    • Chrysler
    • Dodge
    • Ferrari
    • Fiat
    • Jeep
    • Lancia
    • Maserati
    • Ram
    • Lincoln
    • Buick
    • Cadillac
    • Chevrolet
    • GMC
    • Acura
    • Kia
    • Infiniti
    • Jaguar
    • Land Rover
    • Lexus
    • Audi
    • Bentley
    • Bugatti
    • Lamborghini
    • Porsche
  • News
    • Auto Shows
    • Photo Galleries
    • Automakers
    • Suppliers
    • Retail
    • Government Relations
    • Trade and Tariffs
    • Technology
    • Labour
    • Lawsuit challenges Trump's authority on steel, auto tariffs
      Automaker-supplier relationships take a hit
      Ghosn's ace for growth: Suppliers
      In-demand tech puts wary suppliers on guard, study finds
    • Ontario aims to replace GM with Magna, Martinrea or other in Oshawa
      FCA to idle Ontario minivan plant due to parts shortage
      Supplier Brose cutting 100 jobs in Ontario, report says
      Magna's Walker: Pair up to keep cars affordable
    • AutoCanada sues former CEO Patrick Priestner for $250M over dealership acquisitions
      Rolls-Royce names BMW exec its new sales VP for Americas
      How GM's Oshawa closure could affect sales, dealerships
      Commission sales seem to benefit few people, Ontario dealer association says
    • Level 3 autonomous vehicles now allowed on Ontario roads
      Ford adds 149,652 vehicles in Canada to Takata airbag recall
      Honda wants recall notices to be part of registration renewals
      All wet: Rain could delay the arrival of self-driving future
    • A look at which automakers in Canada meet USMCA's 75% content rule
      Canada seeks Pelosi's support in push to lift U.S. metal tariffs
      How Canada's auto industry can take advantage of new trade deals
      Canada says it will stay out of U.S. ratification fight over new NAFTA
    • Vehicle screens go super-sized at CES as tech catches up
      All in a day's work
      Ford commits US$4 billion to autonomous vehicles, forms new subsidiary
      Massive data breach at Canadian company hits several automakers, report says
    • GM Canada says it will find 2,400 jobs for Oshawa workers
      FCA to idle Ontario minivan plant for 8 days, union says
      Unifor calls for boycott of GM vehicles if automaker closes Oshawa plant
      Unifor's Jerry Dias, Magna's Don Walker named Automotive News All Stars
    • Toronto Auto Show
  • Opinion
    • Blogs
    • Chevy's 2019 Blazer: More Camaro, less Equinox
      Trump's troubling definition of victory
      The 2019 Nautilus: Lincoln's Cadillac Super Cruise fighter?
      What Cadillac dealers can expect from Steve Carlisle
  • EVENTS, WEBINARS & AWARDS
    • 2018 Auto News Canada All Stars
    • Best Dealership To Work For
    • Canada Congress
    • Webinars
    • More women in dealerships is just plain good for business
    • VIDEO: Why Ford's Hinrichs is bullish on USMCA
      Ontario aims to replace GM with Magna, Martinrea or other in Oshawa
      Dealers told standalone stores 'difficult to remain profitable'
      Ford's Joe Hinrichs: Plant closures have 'cascading effects' on industry
  • +MORE
    • NEWSLETTERS
    • SUBSCRIBE
    • CLASSIFIEDS
    • CONTACT US
    • DIGITAL EDITION
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. Canada
October 20, 2016 01:00 AM

Windsor-based supplier Valiant sold to Chinese group

Consortium seeks share in global 'smart' manufacturing

Greg Layson
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print
    The Valiant group of companies has 27 facilities in 15 countries.

    A Chinese consortium in Shanghai has bought the Valiant Group of Windsor, Ont., a global supplier of tooling and equipment for the vehicle manufacturing process.

    The purchase will enable Valiant to expand into new global markets, company officials said.

    Solcz Group Inc. said Thursday that it had signed a share purchase agreement to sell its Valiant TMS Group of Companies to the Chinese consortium. 

    Neither party disclosed the value of the deal.

    The transaction is scheduled to close in late 2016, subject to regulatory filing. The identity of the buyer is being held confidential until closing.

    The Valiant group of companies has 27 facilities in 15 countries. It provides automated production systems and specialized tooling serving the automotive, aerospace and heavy industry sectors.

    Specific to the auto industry, Valiant provides equipment in body-in-white welding and assembly systems, powertrain assembly systems, plastic injection and composite tooling, final vehicle assembly systems and more.

    Global vision

    The Solcz family had long been considering expansion in China.

    “Our vision as a family and vision as a management team has always been to become a global company. We’ve always had aspirations to be a true global supplier,” Solcz Group Chairman Marty Solcz told Automotive News Canada. “But when you get to a certain size, how do you leap into that next level? 

    “About seven years ago, we as a family recognized we needed a succession plan to ensure our vision could be achieved,” he said. 

    That’s when the Solcz Group hired a professional management team to run the day-to-day business of Valiant while family members took on more responsibility in the board room, planning the company’s future.

    “Things really started to expand in North America and Europe and we became global players with the automotive companies,” Solcz said. 

    Valiant was named a GM Supplier of the Year by General Motors during its 24th annual Supplier of the Year Awards ceremony held in March. It’s also been lauded by Ford Motor Co. and works with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, Volvo, Volkswagen, Daimler and suppliers Magna and Linamar.

    “A couple years ago, we decided, ‘let’s get a stronghold in China,’” Solcz said.

    Tough sledding at first

    Valiant developed Valiant TMS Technology in Shanghai, but it wasn’t easy. 

    “It was a difficult thing. The market is so extensive, it was very difficult to do it as a startup,” Solcz said. “So we started looking for other partners that could work with us. We needed somebody who would help us grow in this market and yet not get too disruptive in our other locations. We finally found the right group.”

    Solcz said the deal is “not a takeover of competitive rivals, at all.” The two groups don’t directly compete or operate in the same geographical or business circles, he said.

    Some companies in the consortium have a foothold in the automotive industry when it comes to body-in-white technology. There’s also a vision of the consortium to develop in the powertrain applications segment, “which we’re very strong on in North America,” Solcz said.

    Strategic acquisition

    Flavio Volpe, head of the Canadian Auto Parts Manufacturers’ Association, said the deal has its advantages for the Chinese, too.

    “China is the world's largest producer of automobiles by far and is expanding its reach, including into Windsor,” Volpe said. “Valiant is a strategic acquisition.”

    Valiant was founded in 1959 and is based in Windsor, Ont. It will continue to operate under the same management team, the news release said.

    Recommended for You
    Digital Edition
    Thumbnail
    View latest issue
    See our archive
    Sign up for free newsletters
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    You can unsubscribe at any time through links in these emails. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

    Get Free Newsletters

    Sign up today for our Weekly Newsletter, Daily Newsletter and Breaking News Alerts. We'll deliver the news you need to know straight to your inbox.

    You can unsubscribe at any time through links in these emails. For more information, see our Privacy Policy.

    Subscribe Today

    An Automotive News Canada subscription includes 12 monthly issues – delivered in print to your doorstep, and digitally to your inbox – plus unlimited, 24/7 access to our website.

    Subscribe
    Connect With Us
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram

    Our Mission

    The Automotive News Canada mission is to be the primary source of industry news, data and understanding for the industry's decision-makers interested in Canada.

    Contact Us

    PO Box 243
    Station A
    Windsor, ON
    N9A 6K7

    1-877-812-1257

    Email Us

    Resources
    • About us
    • Contact Us
    • Digital Edition Archive
    • Advertise with Us
    • Reprints
    • Ad Choices Ad Choices
    • Sitemap
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    Copyright © 1996-2019. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • HOME
    • NEWS BY BRAND
      • Aston Martin
      • BMW
        • Mini
        • Rolls Royce
      • Daimler
        • Mercedes Benz
        • Smart
      • Fiat Chrysler
        • Alfa Romeo
        • Chrysler
        • Dodge
        • Ferrari
        • Fiat
        • Jeep
        • Lancia
        • Maserati
        • Ram
      • Ford
        • Lincoln
      • General Motors
        • Buick
        • Cadillac
        • Chevrolet
        • GMC
      • Honda
        • Acura
      • Hyundai
        • Kia
      • Mazda
      • Mitsubishi
      • Nissan
        • Infiniti
      • Subaru
      • Tata
        • Jaguar
        • Land Rover
      • Tesla
      • Toyota
        • Lexus
      • Volkswagen
        • Audi
        • Bentley
        • Bugatti
        • Lamborghini
        • Porsche
      • Volvo
    • News
      • Auto Shows
        • Toronto Auto Show
      • Photo Galleries
      • Automakers
      • Suppliers
      • Retail
      • Government Relations
      • Trade and Tariffs
      • Technology
      • Labour
    • Opinion
      • Blogs
    • EVENTS, WEBINARS & AWARDS
      • 2018 Auto News Canada All Stars
      • Best Dealership To Work For
      • Canada Congress
      • Webinars
    • +MORE
      • NEWSLETTERS
      • SUBSCRIBE
      • CLASSIFIEDS
      • CONTACT US
      • DIGITAL EDITION