National Auto Supplier Selects Kansas City Area For Manufacturing Operation

Posted by Heidi SchwartzU.S. Farathane manufacturing plant.

The Kansas City Area Development Council has announced that US Farathane LLC, a source of plastics manufacturing that has supplied the automotive industry for more than 40 years, will locate its newest manufacturing operation in Riverside, MO, part of the greater Kansas City area. The company will hire 267 over the next three years, and will invest $51.6 million.

“Riverside is right in the heart of the action—it’s close to OEMs, it has an experienced workforce and a business-friendly environment. Expanding to the KC region puts US Farathane in a great position to better serve our customers and expand our presence in the automotive industry,” said Andy Greenlee, president of US Farathane.

US Farathane evaluated sites in five states before selecting a building in the Horizons Business Park in Riverside. The primary product to be manufactured at the facility is a highly technical injection molding that improves function and reduces weight and complexity. US Farathane will ship primarily to the Kansas City region, but also will use Kansas City as a central hub for certain product lines. The Riverside facility will primarily supply the GM Fairfax plant in Kansas City, KS.

“The Kansas City region is the second largest auto market based on trade with Canada and Mexico, and we are thrilled to add another automotive supplier to our strong industrial economy,” said Bob Marcusse, president and CEO, Kansas City Area Development Council. “US Farathane joins a growing automotive cluster that is putting KC on the map as a major hub of American manufacturing.”

The Kansas City area is home to large-scale manufacturing operations for both GM and Ford, which have expanded to become the region’s largest manufacturing employers.

Auburn Hills, MI-based US Farathane has been a source of plastics manufacturing, supplying the automotive industry for over 40 years. US Farathane is a privately held company with annual sales above $500,000,000. The company employs more than 2,700 and has 10 U.S. manufacturing locations.