Nucor announced today that it is acquiring Corporacion POK, S.A. de C.V. (POK), a fully integrated precision castings company with a facility in Guadalajara, Mexico. POK produces complex castings and precision machined products used by the oil and gas, mining and sugar processing industries.
POK produces a wide array of precision castings using steel, bronze, iron and specialty exotic alloys. Founded in 1894, POK has a long operating history and strong management team, which is a natural fit for Nucor's existing cold finish businesses and complements Nucor's acquisition of a cold finish facility in Monterrey last year. The acquisition of POK will enable Nucor to broaden its current product offerings and gives the company the opportunity to increase sales into new and existing markets. POK currently employs 425 people at its Guadalajara production facility.
In addition to the Nucor ATP Mexico cold finish facility in Monterrey, Nucor's current Mexican operations include several sheet steel processing facilities as part of its Steel Technologies joint venture with Mitsui & Co., as well as a steel sales office. Nucor is also building a galvanizing line with its joint venture partner, JFE Steel Corporation of Japan, to serve the Mexican automotive market.
"Our company has had a presence in Mexico for more than a decade. We know the market and the customers there. This acquisition supports Nucor's strategy in Mexico, which is focused on downstream processing for high-quality, value-added applications targeting niche markets," said John Ferriola, Chairman, CEO and President of Nucor Corporation. "Expanding our capability to produce value-added products is a key component of our strategy for long-term profitable growth."