“In the last decade, trust was lost by a company that prioritized financial engineering over all else,” says PGI CEO Anan Bishara. “Our philosophy is different.”
Memphis, Tenn.—Premium Guard Inc. (PGI) announced on Wednesday its plans to reopen the former Champion Laboratories facility in Albion, Illinois, after acquiring the automotive filtration manufacturer from First Brands Group. PGI stated it will initially restore nearly 200 manufacturing and operational jobs to the region.
PGI officially closed its acquisition of First Brands Group’s Champion Labs assets along with related assets from the legacy Fram facility in Greenville, Ohio last week.
Champion Labs was originally founded in West Salem, Illinois, in 1955, and the facility ceased operations earlier this year, resulting in the loss of hundreds of local jobs, creating uncertainty across the region. With Wednesday’s announcement, PGI stated it is bringing manufacturing back to Albion and “creating a renewed path forward for employees, families, and the broader community.”
“Today is an important day for Albion and PGI,” said PGI CEO Anan Bishara. “Our team is committed to this community, and our foremost priority is to resume production in Albion. In the last decade, trust was lost by a company that prioritized financial engineering over all else.
“Our philosophy is different — we are a customer-, team-, and product-focused company. We’re proud to help bring jobs, R&D investment, and manufacturing back to a community that has played such an important role in the filtration industry for generations.”
As part of the reopening effort, PGI is welcoming back several former Champion team members and industry veterans. Hiring efforts for manufacturing, operations, and support roles are expected to begin immediately.
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