DENSO Manufacturing Athens Tennessee (DMAT)—On April 1, DENSO Manufacturing Athens Tennessee (DMAT) officially became an independent company from DENSO Manufacturing Tennessee (DMTN).

Since 1997, DMAT had been part of DMTN, which has its headquarters in Maryville, approximately 50 miles from DMAT’s location in Athens. DMTN will continue under President Neal Ozeki’s leadership, and Harvey Oita, executive vice president at DMTN for the past three years, has been named president of DMAT.

“This is a positive move for all of our associates,” said Oita.

“This change supports DENSO’s increased presence in Tennessee as well as in North America,” said Ozeki.

The nearly 800 associates at DMAT produce oxygen sensors, fuel injectors, air-flow meters, ignition stick coils, spark plugs and monolithic carriers for catalytic converters. Another 150 may be hired by the end of the year throughout both Athens manufacturing divisions (fuel injection and ceramic products).