Location opened in 2001
FRANKFORT, Ky. (July 22, 2016) — Wolf Steel LTD, a manufacturer of high-end grills, stoves, fireplaces, furnaces and HVAC units and accessories under the Napoleon brand, finished its $2.3 million expansion in Crittenden that will create 30 jobs.
The new 80,583-square-foot warehouse adjoins Wolf Steel’s current facility on Miller Drive in Crittenden and frees up space for additional manufacturing and logistics. HVAC unit manufacturing could follow, as well. Of the 30 new positions, approximately half are in materials handling and half are in assembly.
“Wolf Steel’s Napoleon products stand out internationally as exceptionally well-built, high-end products. It’s a source of pride for Kentucky that the company has made its U.S. home here the last 17 years,” Gov. Matt Bevin said. “This current expansion, the second in seven years, demonstrates the growing demand for Napoleon grills, flame tables, fire places and other products. We are excited about Wolf Steel’s progress as it continues to offer quality products to customers throughout North America and across the globe.”
Company CEO Wolfgang Schroeter founded Wolf Steel in Barrie, Ontario, Canada in 1976 as a small steel fabrication business manufacturing railings. The company soon moved into the wood stove industry and demand quickly grew beyond Canada’s borders into the U.S. and Europe. Since 1981, Wolf Steel has manufactured goods under the Napoleon Products brand throughout North America and around the world. In 1997, the company created Wolf Steel USA to expand its business in the U.S., which led to it purchasing land in Crittenden in 1999.
The Kentucky location opened in 2001 with 23 employees and expanded in 2009, adding 15 employees and nearly tripling its square footage. The 106,570 square-foot facility currently manufactures grills and fireplaces and employs about 60 people.
To encourage the investment and job growth in the community, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) in February 2015 preliminarily approved the company for tax incentives up to $450,000 through the Kentucky Business Investment program. The performance-based incentive allows a company to keep a portion of its investment over the agreement term through corporate income tax credits and wage assessments by meeting job and investment targets.
Additionally, Wolf Steel can receive resources from the Kentucky Skills Network. Through the Kentucky Skills Network, companies can receive no-cost recruitment and job placement services, reduced-cost customized training and job training incentives. Last year, the Kentucky Skills Network trained more than 84,000 employees from more than 5,600 Kentucky companies.
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