YH America Inc.s Sealant Division is doubling the size of its Versailles-based manufacturing facility as part of a $5.3 million project, the company said.

The division was established in 1998 as a subsidiary of Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. With 40 employees in its Kentucky plant, the YH America Sealant Division manufactures an array of urethane adhesives and primers used for bonding auto glass windshields, back lights and side lights for vehicles, buses and military vehicles.

The multi-million dollar investment will add 12,000 square feet to the plant and bring a handful of new jobs to the region, according to Al Harrington, YH America Sealant Division operations manager.

"Our plant is automated and extremely updated with the latest in technology, so while were not adding that many jobs to our current staff, the capabilities for manufacturing urethane adhesives is significant," Harrington said. "This positions us for future growth so that we can provide exceptional service and support to an even larger customer base."

The growth in YH Americas Sealant Division is due largely to new plants that clients Honda and Mazda have built in Mexico that require these types of bonding adhesives, Harrington said. The immediate needs of those two automotive OEMs, and other clients such as Toyota, General Motors and Mitsubishi, necessitated that a second line be created at the Kentucky plant to increase capacity.