Our Mission, Values and Operating Principles
UGN, Inc. was founded in 1986 as a partnership between Nihon Tokushu Toryo Co. Ltd., (Nittoku), and Autoneum Holding AG. We are the preferred producer of high-quality acoustic, interior trim, thermal management products, and a recognized leader in customer satisfaction for the Japanese transplant automotive industry in North America.
Since 2002, our leader, Peter Anthony, has reconfigured the manufacturing strategy to enhance profitability and lower cost. He has also aggressively applied Toyota Production Systems throughout the organization to create a culture of continuous improvement and standardization, resulting in material, labor, and overhead savings.
Our Values –The UGN Way
Our deeply rooted values are Respect, Trust & Communication
Company culture is the DNA of an organization. It motivates and guides us to accomplish our mission and vision in a manner that treats our customers and fellow Team Members with the highest regard for their success and well-being. We call this The UGN Way. It is based on building and demonstrating respect and trust while communicating effectively in everything we do.
Operating Principles
Sustainability: UGN regards protection of the environment as paramount and endeavors to maintain its ISO14001 certification. UGN is committed to minimizing waste through reducing, reusing, and recycling.
Education: An organization’s Team Members are its most important asset. To ensure the continued growth and development of our Team Members, UGN offers learning and development opportunities through UGN University. UGN University provides Team Members with a common shared vision of the organization, its core values, and its culture, while enhancing their technical and leadership skills. UGN University’s mission is to support Team Member development through innovative online learning, classroom, and on-the-job training.
With a focus on the community, each facility gives back. Below is a list of charities we proudly support:








Our Team
Our team members are the source of the UGN difference. They possess a broad range of experience, a highly diverse skill set, and a shared sense of commitment.
































UGN encourages team members to take part in crafting the UGN culture. It is this culture that drives UGN forward.
Our Management Team

Peter Anthony
President and CEO

Steven Hamilton
Chief Financial Officer

Grant Meseck
Chief Sales & Marketing Officer

Ron Myotte
Chief Operating Officer

Emmanuel Reymond

Kelli Hillgoth
VP of Human Resources

Pranav Singh
Director of Purchasing & Packaging
Our History








The major supplier of these products in Japan was the Nihon Tokushu Toryo Co, Ltd. Mr. Nakanishi, the owner and president of Nihon Tokushu Toryo Co, Ltd., was asked to recommend an American supplier. Sharing an acoustic technology agreement with a European company, Nihon Tokushu Toryo Co, Ltd. and Globe Industries were on common ground so it made sense for Nihon Tokushu Toryo Co, Ltd. to partner with Globe to create UGN.
After a stringent review, Chicago-based Globe Industries began to supply dampeners, absorbers, and barriers to Honda in Marysville, Ohio, and then the others as their plants became operational.
As demand grew each month with the post recession of 1979-82, the demand in America burgeoned for automobiles. It was apparent an additional plant would be required to meet the ever-increasing sales of the Japanese manufacturers. The gestation period of the December 1980 conception was over…the joint venture was at last birthed by two very cooperative parents: Nihon Tokushu Toryo Co, Ltd. and Globe Industries.
Globe Industries provided an empty industrial building in Chicago Heights, Illinois, and the installation of manufacturing equipment was underway. Car floor pan dampers were the first product, followed by foam composites, cotton molded absorbers.
After production had progressed, an official ribbon cutting was scheduled with local government officials and interested citizens attended the gala event on March 27, 1987.
From the start, the venture was profitable, with sales increasing each month. Soon Toyota and Nissan had operating plants in the U.S., supplied by UGN. As other products were being needed by the Japanese plants, a second operation was commenced, named after its parent, UGN II. It made headliners and package trays.
One important benefit of the creation of UGN was its employment of approximately 350 associates at the Chicago Heights location and 90 at UGN II the company was a good neighbor bringing not only jobs to previously high-unemployment areas, but many services and materials were purchased from local businesses.
UGN was managed by a board of directors consisting of five members from Nihon Tokushu Toryo Co, Ltd., and five from Globe Industries. The Globe CEO was the UGN president from 1986-95, with manufacturing managed by Jim Christopher, marketing by John Christopher, and Peter Anthony as lead salesman.
It was Peter who did much to build the image of UGN with its customers. His diligent and effective work led to him being elected president and CEO. Under his direction, UGN continued to grow, adding plants as the business grew.
In 1995, Globe Industries and its 50 percent ownership of UGN, owned by Kingdon Gould and Robert Christopher, was sold to Rieter Holding AG, a major acoustic products supplier in Europe. The new partnership of Nihon Tokushu Toryo Co, Ltd. and Rieter Holding AG—now known as Autoneum—helped the company continue to expand and diversify.
And, as the drumbeat of the company that started with a hurried trip to Japan in late 1980 continues to beat, what of its originators?
Mr. Nakanishi, the man with the original vision and his able assistant, Mr. Suzuki, have both passed on, but helped leave a lasting legacy of jobs, dignity, and useful work. The Americans, Kingdon Gould, and Robert Christopher, spend their time today in charitable work.
UGN Environmental Policy
UGN strives to continually improve its Environmental Management System and conservation efforts by accomplishing its sustainability objectives and targets, meeting its compliance obligations, by the prevention of pollution, training of our Team Members and making it part of our business planning process.
Peter Anthony
2/20/2023
Our Commitment to the Environment
UGN’s Environmental Management System assures that UGN’s manufacturing, delivery, and recycling operations are processed under the control of our EMS system. The EMS System is designed to adhere to ISO 14001:2015 standard. The system assures conformance to legal requirements and the company’s environmental policy and provides objective evidence of effective control.
UGN’s Environmental Policy, identifies management responsibilities, and references the procedures, and supporting EMS System documents and records. The system commits to continual improvement and ensures that interested parties are considered. UGN provides leadership to manage the system and communicate it throughout our organization.
The EMS system complies with all regulatory requirements and is driven by the environmental objectives defined by management. The system is planned, implemented and reviewed while considering the context of our organization and all significant aspects are reviewed. Effectiveness is measured through internal audits, external audits, CARs and management review.
All contractors are expected to comply with procedures for handling and transporting all hazardous substances, minimize waste through recycling, reuse and pollution prevention. All contractors must keep their area of work free of debris at all times and are expected to clean their work space upon completion of their project.
UGN is committed to the enrichment of our environment.
Environmental Responsibility
Our customers work to promote and achieve reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, which drive the use of lightweight materials composed primarily of recycled materials. This, combined with continuous improvements in the products and processes, allow positive movement for customers and the environment.
As well, a rigorous environmental policy provides procedures to handle and transport all hazardous substances and to minimize waste through reducing, recycling, and reusing.
Suppliers and contractors also comply with all local, federal, and state requirements, and are willing to partner with other suppliers to promote a greener future.
The enrichment of our environment comes together with customers and suppliers.
Awards & Recognition
Awards
- Mazda Quality
- Excellence in Value Award
- National Safety Council – Occupational Excellence Achievement Award
- ISO 9001:2015 Certified
- ISO 14001 Certified
- Toyota Quality Performance
- Honda Supplier Performance
- Honda Green Factor Achievement
- Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year – UGN Somerset, KY facility
- Chris Greicius Society of Hope – this award is named for the young boy who inspired the founding of Make-A-Wish and is reserved for those donors who have cumulatively given in excess of $100,000
- Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Finalist – Peter Anthony, Chief Executive Officer at UGN, named a 2013, 2014 and 2016 finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award. The program recognizes those who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as innovation, financial performance, and personal commitment to their business and communities
- 2019 Best Places to Work in Illinois
- 2020 Best Places to Work in Illinois
- 2021 Best Places to Work in Illinois
Internal Recognition
This is named after David Jones who retired in December 2014 after 32 years of service with UGN. Through his dedication to UGN and its customers, David became the role model for all Team Members. The award recognizes one Team Member per calendar year which:
- Exemplifies the UGN core values of Respect, Trust and Communication
- Is a role model for dedication to the business and its customers
- Shows performance over and above the Team Member’s normal duties/responsibilities
- Suggests a significant Continuous Improvement and/or financial contribution to the business
Esther Jones Achievement Award
This award is named after Esther Jones who retired in April of 2020 after 36 years of service with UGN. Esther’s hard work, leading by example and willingness to make UGN better in everything she did, has made a lasting impact and us a stronger organization. She proved that a person from humble beginnings can find a career at UGN which will give anyone who wants to work hard the opportunity to be successful – no matter who they are. The award recognizes one Team Member per calendar year which:
- Goes the “extra” mile, not just doing their job but going above and beyond
- Takes pride in their work
- Always tries to improve, takes the initiative to learn new skills
- Is a role model to their peers by inspiring others to live UGN’s values of Respect, Trust and Communication
Safety Recognition – UGN recognizes Team Members for their safety excellence and the role they play in creating a proactive safety environment
UGN Awards and Customer Recognition
Jackson, Tennessee
- Honda Service Parts Award
- Honda Supplier Performance Award
- Honda recognition for ISO14001 compliance
- National Safety Council Safety Award
- Corporate recognition for nine months with “0” PPM
- “Perfect Record Award,” National Safety Council
- Toyota Delivery Award
- Toyota Quality Award
- Manpower Safety Partner Award
- Honda Quality Performance Award
- Nissan Quality Performance Award
- Nissan Zero Defects
- Unipress Supplier Performance Award
- Rieter Top Three Plant for Performance Award
- Rieter Top 10 Plant Improvement Award
Somerset, Kentucky
- The Honda Green Factory Achievement Award for Recognition ofGreen Factory Activities, Conservation of Natural Resources
- Toyota Delivery Award
- Toyota Quality Award
- Toyota Certificate of Quality Achievement
- Honda recognition for ISO14001 compliance
- Honda Quality Performance Award
- National Safety Council Safety Award
- Corporate recognition for nine months with “0” PPM
- “Perfect Record Award,” National Safety Council
- Manpower Safety Partner Award
Valparaiso, Indiana
- Honda Quality Performance Award
- Honda EDI& Bar Code implementation
- Toyota Achievement Award, quality and delivery
- The Toyota One Way Kanban Labeling Certificate
- Toyota Certificate of Achievement, quality performance
- Subaru Quality Achievement Award
- Nissan Zero Defect Award
- Nissan Quality Master Award
- NUMMI Award Target of Achievement, delivery
- United Motors Target Achievement, delivery
- United Motors Target Achievement, quality, delivery
- Rieter Manufacturing Performance, 3rd place
- Ford Q1
Awards – Video Content
Executives
Peter Anthony
- Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year finalist, 2013: https://ugn.com/peter-anthony-entrepreneur-of-the-year-finalist-video/
- Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year finalist, 2014: https://vimeo.com/98959754
- Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year finalist, 2016: https://ugn.com/ugn-president-ceo-peter-anthony-named-ey-entrepreneur-of-the-year-award-finalist-for-third-time/