Taiwanese metal firm builds $5-M plant in Subic

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT, Philippines — A Taiwanese manufacturer of doorknobs and lock sets has infused more than $5 million worth of fresh investments by building a new plant here. Tong Lung (Phils.) Metal Industry Co. Ltd. has unveiled its zinc die casting and plating facility inside the Subic Bay Gateway Park. In a statement, Tong Lung Chairman Tony Ho said the new plant would allow them to manufacture and export more than one million lock sets a month. Tong Lung exports its products to various markets in Asia, America, Europe and Africa. Both its Taiwan and Subic factories used robotic computer-aided design and automated precision machinery. "Although the global economy seems to be in a recession, I am happy to announce the expansion of our facility," Mr. Ho said. "I want to see our Subic plant become the second base for hardware production for Tong Lung Co. in Asia," he added. "The new facility is set for production and we’re thankful to Tong Lung for manifesting in a very concrete way its confidence in the Subic Bay Freeport," Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Administrator and Chief Executive Officer Armand Arreza said. Tong Lung Vice-Chairman Chung Yu Wang said the Subic facility would open up 1,000 new jobs once fully operational. Aside from producing lock set brands like EZ Set, Passion and Lucky, the company also supplies products to tools and equipment specialist Black and Decker, Mr. Wang said. Tong Lung is one of the pioneering investors in Subic, and has since expanded operations in the free port. "The expansion means more revenues for the Subic Freeport, and these lock sets mean more jobs," Mr. Arreza said. — Reynaldo M. Garcia, BusinessWorld