Manufacturers Plan More Than 1,000 New Jobs in Indiana

In honor of National Manufacturing Day, 22 companies announced plans to locate in or expand in Indiana, committing to invest a total of more than $154 million and create up to 1,090 new jobs.

In honor of National Manufacturing Day, 22 companies have announced plans to locate or expand in Indiana, together committing to invest more than $154 million in their operations and create up to 1,090 new jobs over the next several years.

“Each day, Hoosiers across the state are developing new solutions and creating crucial products that are shipped to customers across the globe,” said Governor Eric J. Holcomb. “I’m honored to proclaim today National Manufacturing Day in Indiana, recognizing the 8,500 businesses in all corners of the state, and to join in celebrating 22 manufacturers that are committing to even more growth here, creating new opportunities for Indiana workers and their families.”

National Manufacturing Day
(Photo: ATTC Manufacturing)

Indiana is home to 8,500 manufacturing facilities and the highest concentration of manufacturing jobs in the U.S., supporting one in five jobs. Manufacturers in Indiana have added 107,300 new jobs since July 2009, ranking No. 2 in the nation and growing at a rate of 25 percent.

The state’s manufacturing industry is diverse, boasting the world’s largest RV production, accounting for nearly 80 percent of the market; the country’s largest steel production, making 27 percent of U.S. steel; the second-largest automotive sector in the nation by GDP; and a leading orthopedics industry, supporting at least 35 percent of the global sector in Warsaw, Indiana, alone. Indiana also supports strong food and beverage, hardwoods, plastics and rubbers, chemicals and machinery and equipment production.

The 22 companies announcing expansion plans are growing across 17 counties, from southern to northern Indiana. They represent both homegrown companies and global businesses with international headquarters in countries like Japan, Germany and Sweden, and they are creating new jobs in a variety of manufacturing subsectors such as automotive, food and beverage, glass and metals, hardwoods, machinery and more.

ATTC MANUFACTURING (Perry County), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Japan-based Aisin Takaoka Co. Ltd., will invest more than $27.3 million to increase its manufacturing capabilities in Perry County. The company will retool its 380,000-square-foot facility in Tell City in order to add 15 new production lines to increase production of differentials cases, front knuckles and rear carriers. This expansion will create up to 26 new jobs and anticipates hiring for manufacturing operators before the end of 2018.

BENDIX COMMERCIAL VEHICLE SYSTEMS (Huntington County), a member of the Munich, Germany-based Knorr-Bremse Group, manufactures cutting-edge safety technologies, energy management solutions and air brake charging and control systems for medium- and heavy-duty commercial vehicles like trucks, tractors, trailers and buses. The Ohio-based company expects to invest $1.5 million over the next three years to open a fifth building that will expand its distribution capabilities as well as its module manufacturing. The Bendix Huntington campus includes manufacturing, remanufacturing and assembly sites, as well as Bendix’s primary North American distribution center. Bendix employs more than 420 associates in Huntington and expects to create up to 49 new jobs to support its most recent growth.

CARDINAL IG COMPANY (Steuben County), which manufactures residential insulated glass for windows and doors, will invest $4.75 million to expand its Fremont facility to house a new IG fabrication line which will provide future growth opportunities. The project will equip a new 58,000-square-foot facility. The company recently broke ground on the new facility, which will be complete by the beginning of January 2019. Cardinal IG Company currently employs 345 full-time associates in Indiana and plans to create 45 jobs by 2021 to support its expansion.

CIRCLE CITY KOMBUCHA (Marion County), which produces probiotic kombucha tea, will invest more than $1.6 million to increase its Marion County production and distribution of bottled and draft Feel Good Soda™ beverages across the Midwest. The company, currently based at 1121 N. Arlington Ave. in Irvington, is finalizing lease negotiations in order to more than quadruple its footprint, renovating and equipping a new, more than 10,000-square-foot facility in central Indiana. The company plans to launch operations at the new facility in early 2019 and plans to hire up to 60 new jobs by the end of 2021 to support its growth.

CLAYTON WAKARUSA (Elkhart County) of the Clayton Home Building Group, one of America’s largest home builders, specializes in manufactured and modular housing. In late 2016, the company expanded by adding a second facility, Clayton Wakarusa II, and upgrading its existing operations in Elkhart County. The new facility added over 40,000 square feet of production and office space in addition to its existing 101,000-square-foot complex at 66700 SR 19, Wakarusa. The expansion was completed in 2017, allowing the company to increase production and provide a world-class environment for its team members. As part of its growth, Clayton Wakarusa II home building facility hired 120 new team members and has a goal to add up to 110 more positions over the next two years to its combined Indiana team of 320 employees.

DELTA FAUCET COMPANY (Decatur County), which manufactures, assembles, distributes and sells residential and commercial faucets and other water-related products, will invest $15.4 million to expand its manufacturing operations in Decatur County. The company will renovate and retool a portion of its 360,000-square-foot facility in Greensburg, where a new product category will be launched. To support its growth, Delta Faucet Company, which employs more than 300 associates in Greensburg, plans to hire at least 39 new associates by the end of 2020.

DRIVEN INNOVATIONS (Kosciusko County), which builds components for the RV industry, will invest $3.6 million to expand its operations in Kosciusko County, constructing and equipping a new facility with at least 10,000 square feet in Syracuse. The company plans to break ground on the new facility in 2019 in order to increase its production of RV chassis/trailer products. Driven Innovations already employs 13 full-time associates and plans to create up to 60 new jobs by 2020 to support its growth.

FUSION WOOD PRODUCTS (Elkhart County), manufacturer of custom wood trim, flat panel lamination and molding products, will invest $4.6 million to expand its Elkhart operations. The investment will include expanded wrapping lines, a new lamination line and new equipment. The project will bolster the company’s 68,000-square-foot facility on its 10-acre lot.

IQ FIBERS (Wells County), a manufacturer of high-quality cellulose fiber products from recycled paper, will invest $10.5 million to lease and equip the 40,000-square-foot former Sterling Casting Buildings plant in Bluffton. The company will deploy nearly half of its investment to purchase and install state-of-the-art machinery and equipment at the facility. IQ Fibers has already added 10 full-time employees toward its goal of 36 and is currently hiring for production associates and a shift supervisor.

L&W ENGINEERING (Elkhart County), a manufacturer of fabricated steel and aluminum parts, will invest $4.28 million to expand its operations in Middlebury, constructing and equipping a fifth 78,000-square-foot facility at its existing 250,000-square-foot complex. The expansion, which is currently under construction, will allow the company to increase capacity of its chassis stretch and modification business. As part of its growth, L&W Engineering plans to add up to 40 new positions to its current team and anticipates hiring for steel welders and fabricators, general assembly, and vehicle technicians in early 2019.

LEENTU CORPORATION (Marion County), the manufacturer of a unique line of ultra-lightweight pop-up campers, initially targeted at the mid-sized recreational pick-up truck market, is establishing operations in Marion County in Indianapolis. The company is committed to investing $1.1 million in the local economy over the next four years. As part of its growth, Leentu Corporation plans to add up to 18 new positions to its current team of two employees and anticipates hiring technicians, general office administration, customer service, sales and marketing positions beginning in 2019.

MERVIS METAL RECOVERY, LLC (Perry County), is a recycling company and subsidiary of Mervis Industries, Inc., a full-service provider for iron, metal, plastic, fiber and all other recyclable products. Mervis will invest $1.2 million to establish operations in Perry County, purchasing and equipping a new metal separating facility in Troy. The facility will have the capacity to process an estimated 7 million pounds of material annually, recovering and recycling approximately half of that volume instead of sending to a landfill. The company plans to be fully moved into its new facility by November 2018. Mervis’ growth plans include the addition of up to six new jobs in Indiana by 2019.

PIKE LUMBER COMPANY (Fulton County), a primary manufacturer of kiln-dried hardwood lumber, will invest more than $6.8 million to expand its operations in Fulton County. The company will construct and furnish a six-chamber bank of dry kilns, a new warehouse and a new corporate office at its 80-acre campus in Akron. With construction currently underway, the company anticipates creating 10 new jobs by the end of 2021, filling general labor, supervisory and kiln technician positions.

ROSA VILA JEWELRY (Hamilton County), which was founded in 2016, is investing in its warehousing and production operations in Noblesville in order to expand its jewelry design and manufacturing operations with the goal of producing original and expressive jewelry at an affordable price. To support its growth and increase its customer base, the company plans to hire 27 new, full-time employees by the end of 2022.

SATELLITE INDUSTRIES (Elkhart County), which manufactures luxury mobile restroom trailers in Bristol, will invest $9.6 million to expand its Elkhart facility and increase focus on specialty trailer manufacturing. The project will build an additional 120,000 square feet to the company’s existing 120,000-square-foot facility at in Bristol. The company recently broke ground on the new facility, which will be complete by early next year. Satellite Industries currently employs 90 full-time associates in Indiana and plans to create up to 60 jobs by the end of 2018 to support its expansion.

STANDARD INDUSTRIAL (Pulaski County), which manufactures components used by industry-leading companies in the assembly of their finished products, will invest $1.7 million in new equipment and processes to expand its operations in Winamac. Housed at the company’s existing 45,000-square-foot complex, the expansion will include the installation and utilization of robotic press braking, precision part leveling and additional laser capacity. With the expansion scheduled to begin early in 2019, Standard Industrial plans to add up to 15 new jobs to its current team of 32 Indiana employees by 2020.

SUGARCREEK (Wayne County), a diversified food manufacturer and one of the largest independent processors of bacon in the U.S., will expand its operations in Wayne County, investing $33 million in equipment to open a new meatball, chicken and raw and prepared pork cooking operation at its 418,000-square-foot facility in Cambridge City. The company, which officially opened this facility in 2016 to serve both domestic and international customers, already employs 400 full-time associates in Indiana and plans to create up to 149 new jobs by 2020 to support its growth.

TENNECO INC. (Noble County), one of the world’s largest suppliers of clean air and ride performance products for the automotive industry, will invest more than $5.4 million to expand its manufacturing operations in Ligonier, purchasing new pipe manufacturing equipment and welding machines at its 320,000-square-foot campus. The expansion will allow the company to increase production on its exhaust components and clean air products for the automotive, commercial truck and aftermarket markets. To support its growth, Tenneco plans to create 43 new jobs by the end of 2019 and anticipates hiring for general operators, welders and leadership positions.

TIPTON MILLS FOODS (Bartholomew County), a blended and packaged foods and beverage products manufacturer, will invest $4 million to construct and equip a new 30,000-square-foot warehouse and 10,000-square-foot building on its eight-acre campus in Columbus, complementing its existing 45,000-square-foot plant. The expansion, which is scheduled to be complete by the end of the year, will allow the company to install new high-speed can and canister filling machines, increasing its blending and agglomeration capabilities and doubling its total production capacity. Tipton Mills Foods, which has 55 employees in Indiana, has already added 22 positions of its goal of 40 new jobs and is currently hiring for operators, packagers and warehouse associates.

TRELLEBORG SEALING SOLUTIONS (Allen County), a business unit of Sweden-headquartered Trelleborg Group, will invest more than $3.6 million to expand its Allen County operations in New Haven, just outside Fort Wayne. The company will construct and equip a new 8,000-square-foot addition to its 73,656-square-foot facility in order to accommodate growing demand for its polymer plastics sealing product line. Plans to begin the expansion started in September. Trelleborg Sealing Solutions will add 40 new, full-time jobs by 2020 and anticipates hiring for general operators and machinists.

TRI-STATE CYLINDER HEAD (Vanderburgh County), which specializes in high-precision cast-iron welding and machining, will invest more than $2.5 million to upgrade its 20,000-square-foot facility in Evansville. The company will install state-of-the-art machining equipment and custom welding infrastructure to support increased customer demand for its cylinder head remanufacturing. With over 35 full-time associates currently in southwest Indiana, Tri-State Cylinder Head plans to nearly double its workforce by adding up to 34 positions over the next few years.

VANAIR (LaPorte County), a provider of mobile power solutions, has invested more than $1.5 million to expand its state-of-the-art technology and innovation center, growing its campus to two buildings in Michigan City to accommodate the operations of Minnesota-based Goodall Mfg., which the company purchased in January 2017. Goodall Mfg., which is a leader in jump-starting equipment, officially moved its operations to Indiana on July 1, 2018, bringing its broad range of jump starters, air compressors, AC generators and heavy duty cable and clamp products. The company, which already employs more than 140 associates at its Michigan City complex, plans to create 25 new positions by the end of 2023.

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