By Abby Laub
Every day, Northern Kentucky churns out important products crucial to business operations around the world. For example, three million airplane passengers every single day rely on aircraft carbon brakes that are manufactured in Walton.
In fall 2016, Safran Landing Systems, a commercial and military aircraft wheel and brake components maker formerly known as Messier-Bugatti-Dowty, broke ground on a $100 million-plus expansion.
Safran Landing is the world leader in aircraft landing and braking systems, and the expansion will help it keep up with rising demand in North America. The company’s Walton plant is one of its three carbon production plants worldwide and the only one in North America.
Aerospace products and parts lead Kentucky’s $28 billion in exports by category, with Safran contributing greatly. In 2015, the state shipped more than $8.7 billion in aerospace products and as of July 2016 had shown an impressive year-to-date increase of 21.8 percent. As of July 2016, 36 percent of Kentucky’s total exports were aerospace products and parts.
Thanks in large part to a skilled workforce, prime location and low taxes, Northern Kentucky is the manufacturing base for many other major corporations like world machine tool leader Mazak Corp., sometime Fortune 500 member General Cable, auto parts maker Mubea, Tyson/Hillshire Foods, L’Oreal cosmetics, Novolex, The Schwan Food Co., Robert Bosch Automotive Steering, Architectural Aluminum Products, and Evenflo Feeding, just to name a few.
With 1,360 employees at its Florence plant, Mubea holds rank as the largest manufacturing employer in Northern Kentucky. Mubea is a lightweight construction specialist providing heavy duty spring components and related products.
“Mubea’s successful manufacturing operations over the years have been the direct result of the hard work of our committed Northern Kentucky and tri-state employees combined with the strong and enthusiastic efforts of the entire business support network including the Governor’s Office, the Kentucky Economic Development Cabinet, the Labor Secretary’s Office, Gateway Community and Technical College, the Tri-ED staff, the NKY Chamber, and the press with the NKY Tribune,” said Mubea North America CEO Doug Cain. “In addition, the local government officials and services sector including the fire, police, and sheriff’s departments have always made us feel a valued member of the community.”
With one-day delivery to two-thirds of the U.S. market and a DHL global air freight shipping hub at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, manufacturers in Northern Kentucky enjoy logistical benefits that are unparalleled nearly anywhere else in the country.
Erlanger-based Sterling Cut Glass, a PGA Tour sponsor and licensee, is one of the longest continuously operating glassworks companies in the nation. It and many others cite “the community spirit, great employees and family atmosphere” as reasons they love to manufacture quality-conscious products in the area.
They range from the broadest household names to specialty niches. For example, runners and cyclists in Kentucky can buy local when purchasing world-renowned Road ID bracelets. The identification bracelets made in Erlanger are known as life-saving tools for people participating in sports.
Manufacturing’s workforce pipeline
To help keep up with the demand for skilled workers, the I Made it in NKY initiative – launched by the Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Development Coalition – helps educate workers and pair them with manufacturers who need skilled employees. Area manufacturers quickly jumped onboard the Kentucky Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (KY FAME) initiative, an initiative that spread quickly from its Central Kentucky origins just a few years ago. With 10 chapters all over the state, KY FAME is a partnership between community technical colleges and regional manufacturers to implement dualtrack, apprenticeship-style training that will create a pipeline of skilled, teamwork-oriented, problem solving workers.
Wade Williams, Tri-ED’s senior vice president of business development, oversees manufacturing projects for the economic development organization and explained how there is a concerted and productive effort to bring together the Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Development Coalition and KY FAME.
“I view the evolution of our workforce initiatives in NKY as a process,” he said, noting how a Northern Kentucky Industrial Parks study in 2012 revealed manufacturing needs that would develop over the next 10 years quickly prompted companies in the region to act.
“Bosch and Mubea and others came together to form the Northern Kentucky chapter for FAME and started the recruitment process,” Williams said. “While that was going on, there was also this call to action in the community to work on this pipeline of skilled talent since those were some of the issues that were part of the NKIP study.”
Ultimately KY FAME and AMWDC grew organically out of different initiatives but involved many of the same people, he explained, with KY FAME being set up as an apprenticeship program while the AMWDC took on the work of marketing modern, well-paying manufacturing jobs to parents and students.
In fall 2016, the groups were combined to maximize results, with a coalition steering committee that includes a talent supply subcommittee run by KY FAME. The other two elements are measuring success and marketing.
Williams highlighted two additional exciting programs coming out of KY FAME now: the Raise The Floor initiative and Enhanced Operator Program. Raise The Floor aims to recruit more women to work in advanced manufacturing.
The KY FAME Northern Kentucky chapter’s company members are: Diversified Composites; Grief; Hahn Automation; Krauss-Maffei; Linamar; Linkology USA; L’Oreal; Mubea; Nucor; Robert Bosch Automotive Steering LLC; Safran/Messier-Bugatti-Dowty; Skilcraft; Steinert US; Steinkamp Molding; Stober; Wagstaff; and Zotefoam.
Largest Manufacturers by Employment
|
Manufacturer |
Employees |
|
Mubea NA |
1,360 |
|
Robert Bosch |
1,300 |
|
The Schwan Food Company |
850 |
|
Novolex |
800 |
|
Mazak Corp. |
650 |
|
Tyson/Hillshire Foods |
566 |
|
The C.W. Zumbiel Company |
400 |
Abrapower Inc.
Abrasive coated foam
Florence
abrapowerusa.com
Anderson Manufacturing
AR 15 Rifles
Hebron
andersonrifles.com
Angstrom Technologies
Electro optical UV detectors
Florence
angtech.com
AquiSense Technologies
LED devices
Erlanger
aquisense.com
Armor USA Inc.
Thermal transfer printer ribbons
Hebron
armor-tt.com
Atkins & Pearce, Inc.
Braided technical textiles
Covington
atkinsandpearce.com
Avure Technologies
High pressure food processing
Erlanger
avure-hpp-foods.com
Baker Stamping
Tubular stamp and multi-slide parts
Wilder
bakerstamping.com
Balluff
Industrial networking, object detection
Florence
balluff.com
Beckman Coulter
Diagnostic tests/equipment
Florence
beckmancoulter.com
Benda-Lutz Corporation
Blitz® bonded metallic powder coatings, Blitz® aluminum pigments
Independence
benda-lutz.com
Best Sanitizers
Hand sanitizer
Walton
bestsanitizers.com
Beverly International Nutrition, Inc.
Nutrition sports manufacturer
Cold Spring
beverlyinternational.net
Blue Grass Quality Meats
Deli meats
Erlanger
bluegrassqualitymeats.com
Bonfiglioli USA
Hebron
bonfiglioliusa.com
Celanese
Advanced polymer technology to produce high-performance plastic materials
Florence
celanese.com
Clarion Corp. Of America
Car audio, multimedia, information products
Walton
clarion.com
Clopay Plastic Products Company
Specialty films, extrusion coatings, custom-printing, engineered laminations
Augusta
clopayplastics.com
Continental Building Products
Wallboard and joint compound materials
Silver Grove
continental-bp.com
Cummins Filtration
Filtration, coolant and fuel additive technology
Walton
cumminsfiltration.com
Desma USA, Inc.
Tooling, rubber injection molds and injection molding machines
Hebron
desma-usa.com
Diversified Structural Composites
Pultruded composite products, carbon fiber equipment
Erlanger
diversified-composites.com
Dixie Dew
Ice cream toppings
Erlanger
dixiedewproducts.com
ESCO Corporation
Construction attachments, mining, and conveyor products
Covington
escocorp.com
Ethos Labs
Drug tests
Newport
ethos-labs.com
Evenflo Feeding, Inc.
Infant equipment, baby care and juvenile products
West Chester
evenflofeeding.com
Fabritec International
Professional dry cleaning detergents, wet cleaning soaps and spotting chemicals
Florence
fabritec.com
Fields Welding, Inc.
Structural steel fabrication, metal fabrication
Fort Wright
fieldswelding.com
Fives Cincinnati
Machining and assembly systems, aerospace and automotive production equipment
Hebron
metal-cutting-composites.fivesgroup.com
Flottweg
Decanter centrifuges, separators, belt presses
Independence
flottweg.com
Fortress Interlocks Inc.
Safety access and control systems
Erlanger
fortressinterlocks.com
Fuji Autotech USA LLC
Walton
fujiautotec.net
Galerie Candy & Gifts
Chocolate and specialty candy
Hebron
galeriecandy.com
GameMaster
Louisville Slugger Instructional items and pitching machines
Erlanger
gmasterathletic.com
Gates Corporation
Belts, hose, hydraulics
Hebron
gates.com
General Cable
Copper, aluminum and fiber optic wire and cable for energy, industrial, specialty and communications markets
Highland Heights
generalcable.com
Givaudan Flavors
Fragrance and flavor
Florence
givaudan.com
Glier’s Meats, Inc.
German breakfast sausage
Covington
goetta.com
Greif Inc.
Rigid industrial packaging, steel drums
Florence
greif.com
Griffin Industries
Animal rendering services
Cold Springs
griffinind.com
HBC-radiomatic, Inc.
Radio systems for wireless control of cranes and machinery
Hebron
hbc-usa.com
Hahn Automation
Industrial equipment and technology
Hebron
hahnautomation.com
Hy-Tek Integrated Systems
Material handling solutions
Hebron
hy-tek.net
Indelac Controls, Inc.
Quarter turn rotary electric actuators used for valve and damper automation
Florence
indelac.com
International Mold Steel, Inc.
Steel for plastic & rubber molds
Florence
imsteel.com
Iofina Chemical, Inc.
Select halogen specialty chemicals, iodine
Covington
iofina.com
J.A.C.C., Inc.
Custom machine safety guarding
Alexandria
Jack’s Glass, Inc.
Home and auto glass solutions
Elsmere
jacksglassshop.com
J-Fab LLC
Florence
Johnson Controls, Inc. – Power Solutions
Lead acid batteries
Florence
jci.com
Kellogg Snacks
Keebler Products
Florence
kelloggs.com
Kiswel Welding Products
Welding filler manufacturer
Florence
kiswelusa.com
Krauss-Maffei
Plastic fabrication
Florence
kraussmaffei.com
KRC Machine Tool Services
Fanuc and Siemens CNC retrofitting
Independence
krcmachinetoolservices.com
Lally Pipe & Tube
Structural & limited service steel pipe
Linamar
Automotive parts and components
Florence
linamar.com
Linkology
Security systems for parking garages
Newport
linkologyusa.com
Lohmann Corporation
Specialty adhesive tapes, precision die-cuts
Hebron
lohmann-tapes.com
L’Oreal USA-Florence Manufacturing
Hair care products
Florence
loreal.com
LSI
Menu boards
Florence
lsi-industries.com
Lyons Magnus
Flavorings and juices
Walton
lyonsmagnus.com
Mauer USA
Injection molded caps and closures for personal care products
Hebron
Mazak Corporation
Florence
CNC turning centers, vertical machining centers, horizontal machining centers, Multi-Tasking machines, 5-axis machines
Meritor Automotive, Inc.
Axle, brake and suspension solutions
Florence
meritor.com
Mubea Inc.
Lightweight construction specialist providing heavy duty spring components and related products
Florence
mubea.com
National Band & Tag Co.
Poultry leg and wing bands, bands used for wildlife, ID tags
Newport
nationalband.com
North American Stainless L.P.
Steel
Ghent
northamericanstainless.com
Novolex
Paper products
Florence
novolex.com
Nucor Steel Gallatin
Hot band coils
Ghent
gallatinsteel.com
Pepsico
Snacks, foods and beverages
Erlanger
pepsico.com
Perfetti van Melle
Airheads
Erlanger
perfettivanmelleusa.us
PG LifeLink
Isolated power system design and manufacturer
Erlanger
pglifelink.com
Post Glover
Power resistors
Erlanger
postglover.com
R & R Design & Manufacturing
Conveyor & automation systems
Florence
rrdesignmfg.com
R.A. Jones & Co.
Packaging machinery
Covington
rajones.com
River Metals Recycling LLC
Scrap recycling
Fort Mitchell
rmrecycling.com
Road ID
Road ID Bracelets
Fort Mitchell
roadid.com
Robert Bosch Automotive
Steering columns
Florence
bosch-automotive-steering.com
Safran Landing Systems
Carbon brakes for airplanes
Walton
safranmbd.com
F.N. Sheppard & Co., Inc.
Specialty belting
Erlanger
fnsheppard.com
Skilcraft
Surgical products, surgical device production, contract medical device manufacturing
Burlington
skilcraft.com
A.O. Smith Co.
Water heaters, boilers and storage tanks
Florence
hotwater.com
Steinert US
Dry magnetic drum separator solutions and sensor sorting solutions
Walton
steinertglobal.com
Steinkamp Molding L.P. Mold & Tool
3-D rubber/metal & plastic injection molds, blow molds, foam molds
Erlanger
stkm.us
Sterling Cut Glass
Contracts with the PGA Tour
Erlanger
sterlingcutglass.com
Sterling Ventures, LLC
Limestone mine, crushed stone
Verona
Stewart Iron Works
Ornamental iron fencing and gates
Erlanger
stewartironworks.com
STOBER
Gearboxes
Maysville
stober.com
Studio Vertu
Italian marble products
Newport
studiovertu.com
Sweco
Customized industrial separation equipment
Florence
sweco.com
Tente
Casters that go on hospital beds
Hebron
tente.com
TOPAS Advanced Polymers, Inc.
World’s leading maker of cyclic olefin copolymer
Florence
topas.com
Toyota Boshoku America
Automotive interior systems
Erlanger
toyota-boshoku.com/us/
Trivaco
Specialty valves, actuators, actuation controls
Hebron
trivaco.com
Tyson/Hillshire Brands
Meat, primarily cocktail weenies
Alexandria
tysonfoods.com/hillshire-brands.aspx
Paul Tuemler L.P. Gas Inc.
Propane gas service
Walton
paultuemlerlpgas.com
The Schwan Food Company
Red Baron Pizza
Florence
theschwanfoodcompany.com
US Playing Card Company
Erlanger
usplayingcard.com
ViaCord
Umbilical cord preservation
Hebron
viacord.com
The Waddington Group
High-quality plastic, disposable cups, plates, cutlery, serving ware
Covington
wna.biz
Wagstaff
Capital equipment for molton aluminum industry
Hebron
wagstaff.com
Wild Flavors
Flavor technology
Erlanger
wildflavors.com
Willow Ridge Plastics, Inc.
Oxobiodegradable additives for plastics
Erlanger
willowridgeplastics.com
Wolf Steel USA Inc
High end fireplaces, grills, HVAC
Crittenden
napoleonproducts.com
ZF Boge Elastmetall
Transmissions, steering systems, axles
Hebron
zf.com
Zotefoams, Inc.
Cross-linked block foams, world leader
Walton
zotefoams.com
The C.W. Zumbiel Company
Packaging
Hebron
zumbiel.com
Source: Northern Kentucky Tri-ED and Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce
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