The 65.000-sf structure is being touted as one of the most attractive in Ft. Worth's Alliance, which now boasts more than 70 industrial structures. A Valeo spokeswoman told GlobeSt.com the plant will start production with a core crew of 40 to 50 workers and add to that base within the near future. The facility will eventually bring 170 new jobs to the region.

Andre Navarri, Valeo's chairman and CEO based in France, will be on hand for the launch. The company manufactures multi-purpose circuit boards that counts can automatically turn on windshield wipers when it rains, trigger warnings to avoid collisions with unseen objects and control keyless vehicle entry. Valeo is a global leader in the supply of components, systems and modules to the automotive industry. The company has a 77,000-member workforce at 155 plants in 19 countries in Europe, North and South America and Asia. It also has operations at 11 US locations and 10 in Mexico. Valeo has annual sales of $10 billion.

The structure, situated on seven acres at the southeast corner of Interstate 35W and Eagle Parkway, features a number of unique architectural windows not usually associated with designs of manufacturing plants--an element to make the most of natural lighting, yet boasting an overall plan for heightened energy efficiency.