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Akebono Brake Corp. Expands HQ, Hires 70 Professionals

By wmadministrator

State and local officials recently gathered at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the expansion of Akebono Brake’s headquarters in Elizabethtown. Pictured are (left to right) Larry Hayes, cabinet secretary, Kentucky Economic Development Cabinet; Carl Lay, Akebono vice president administration; Gov. Steve Beshear; Kazu Matsumoto, Akebono president and CEO; David Willmoth, mayor of Elizabethtown; and Harry Berry, Hardin County judge-executive.

Akebono Brake Corp. is expanding its Elizabethtown headquarters facility to accommodate the addition of 70 new professional jobs.

The expansion comes as a result of the company’s recent acquisition of Robert Bosch LLC’s North American Foundation Brake Division, effectively doubling the size of the company. Akebono is investing $800,000 to add over 12,000-s.f. of office space to its Elizabethtown facility to house the new staff.

Akebono has historically operated all of its North American manufacturing facilities in Kentucky. Opening its first Kentucky facility in Elizabethtown in 1987, the company has since grown to become one of the largest manufacturing operations in Hardin County, employing 1,500 people in the area. The company relocated its North American headquarters to the commonwealth in 2006.