Home » German-owned steel mill opens in Bowling Green

German-owned steel mill opens in Bowling Green

New Kentucky location will advance growth throughout North America
Bilstein's Bowling Green facility will supply the Northern American market with high-grade cold-rolled steel strip.
Bilstein’s Bowling Green facility will supply the North American market with high-grade cold-rolled steel strip.

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (Sept. 21, 2017) — Bilstein Cold Rolled Steel company officials were joined by global business leaders, community leaders and elected officials to celebrate the grand opening of the German-owned mill at the Kentucky Transpark in Bowling Green.

This new location will allow them to grow their North American footprint and serve many industries, including major players in the automotive and automotive supply industry. Originally announced in 2013, this project will create 110 jobs for the South Central Kentucky region.

“I am honored to join the Bowling Green community as we celebrate Bilstein’s grand opening today at the Transpark,” said Congressman Brett Guthrie. “Bilstein joins a number of international companies that have recognized Bowling Green as the ideal spot to open an American production facility. Over the years, we have seen our local economy grow thanks to companies likeBilstein and I look forward to seeing how this new facility will positively impact our community.”

“Today I am thrilled to celebrate the grand opening of our first U.S. facility here in Bowling Green. Only four years after the announcement of the project and two years after the groundbreaking ceremony we are able to produce high-quality cold rolled steel strip on the most modern equipment in the industry,” said CEO and managing partner of Bilstein Group Marc T. Oehler.

“This tremendous success is possible because of the hard work of every single member of our project team, our dedicated partners and suppliers, and a very focused project management team headed by Dr. Bernhard Gräwe. Thank you to everyone involved! I would especially like to say thank you for the great service and excellent support to everyone involved from the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the city of Bowling Green and Warren County. We feel very welcome in Warren County and Bowling Green and will do everything we can to be a good and responsible member of the community. Bowling Green is exactly what we have been looking for.”

Bilstein is part of the family-owned German steel processor Bilstein Group and will produce a wide range of high-precision cold rolled strip steel products.

Bilstein Group was founded in 1911 and has grown to be a world-leader in the cold rolled strip steel market. Bilstein Group offers an assortment of steels used across a variety of industries, predominately the automotive industry. Products made using cold rolled strip steel include blade steels, cutting steels, automatic transmissions and clutches, automobile safety parts, seat track and seat structure parts, just to mention a few examples.

“As the number one capital investment in the state of Kentucky in 2013, we are happy to join BILSTEIN in celebrating the grand opening of their Bowling Green facility today,” said Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Ron Bunch. “This milestone event is an indicator of how bright BILSTEIN’s future is in South Central Kentucky as well as the company’s growth as a leading supplier for the automotive industry. A special thank you is in order to our community’s economic development partners, including the City of Bowling Green and Warren County as well our partners across the state, all of which are crucial to our economic development success.”

Announced in 2013 by the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce, this project has already experienced two additions, bringing the total capital investment to $130 million and 110 new full time jobs in South Central Kentucky. This project is projected to have an economic impact of over $300 million on the Warren County community by 2023.

“Bowling Green is home to over 20 international companies, each creating jobs and providing opportunity for the people in our community and beyond,” said Bowling Green Mayor Bruce Wilkerson. “Today is a great day in South Central Kentucky as we celebrate Bilstein’s grand opening and their future in South Central Kentucky.”

“I am honored to be a part of Bilstein’s grand opening today at the Transpark,” said Warren County Magistrate Doug Gorman. “Our community continues to experience success largely due to progressive and innovative companies like Bilstein who choose to grow here. We are proud to have them in our community and look forward to their success in our region and throughout North America.”

So far for 2017, the Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce has announced nine economic development projects totaling $182.3 million in capital investment and 482 new jobs.

Bilstein Cold Rolled Steel is a Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce Presidents Club Gold Star Partner. For additional information about the company or current open positions, please visit www.bilsteincrs.com.