By Susan Gosselin
More than a chamber of commerce slogan, “I made it in Northern Kentucky” is an accurate description of the growing momentum the manufacturing sector is experiencing.
From January through October 2017, more than 400 manufacturing jobs were created and $360 million was invested in new and expanding manufacturing facilities in the eight Northern Kentucky counties alone, according to the state Cabinet for Economic Development.
“Companies looking for manufacturing locations have been taking a second look at Northern Kentucky,” said Jack Mazurak, communications director for the cabinet. “We have qualities employers are looking for: low cost of living, a great quality of life, a deep labor pool, favorable laws and regulations, and a solid base of aerospace and automotive companies already here. And with the Cincinnati airport nearby, companies who locate here can take advantage of the DHL Express (air freight) global hub. They can ship internationally, overnight in most cases.”
Since January 2017, three new companies decided to locate in Northern Kentucky, including Whitehall Inc., which is spending $40 million to open a Hebron-based plant to manufacture bread products and employ 81 workers; Cabot Corp., which is investing $89 million in a new chemical plant employing 32 in Carrollton; and MGPI of Indiana, which is investing $3.8 million to open a contract food and beverage company in Williamstown.
They add to the strong legacy of manufacturing in the region – one rooted in aerospace products, food service and custom machining.
For instance, Safran Landing Systems, a commercial and military aircraft wheel and brake components maker based in Walton is the world leader in aircraft landing and braking systems. The company staffs 380 employees, and completed a $100 million expansion in 2016. It is one of the reasons Kentucky’s largest export category is aircraft parts and accessories, accounting for 37 percent of the commonwealth’s total exports in 2016.
Northern Kentucky’s advantageous business climate has led many important manufacturers to call the region home, including sometimes Fortune 500 company General Cable, auto parts maker Mubea, Tyson/Hillshire Foods, Novolex, The Schwan Food Co., Robert Bosch Automotive Steering, Architectural Aluminum Products, and Evenflo Feeding, and L’Oréal.
Mubea is the area’s largest manufacturer, employing more than 1,300 workers producing heavy-duty products for lightweight construction.
“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 Economic Development Cabinet, the Labor Secretary’s Office, Gateway Community and Technical College, the Tri-ED staff, the NKY Chamber, and the press,” said Doug Cain, CEO of Mubea North America. “In addition, the local government officials and services sector have always made us feel a valued member of the community.”
L’Oréal completed installation of the biggest solar power plant in Kentucky in summer 2017. The 4,140-panel configuration sits on a Kenton County rooftop and equates to over 1,000 metric tons of carbon that won’t be introduced into the air, according to L’Oréal USA Plant Manager Nicole Frey.
“Companies want to manufacture in the U.S.,” said Brian Papke, chairman of Mazak Corp. in Florence. “If you are making something simple, you make it offshore, but manufacturing is much more sophisticated than it has been in the past. Products are more complex and made with fewer parts. You need the equipment to make that, and you need people with skills to run them.”
Cutting-edge machine tool leader Mazak makes customized, advanced technology for other manufacturers, a high precision business requiring a large workforce of engineers, machinists and advanced manufacturing experts.
“We’ve been in Northern Kentucky for decades now,” Papke said. “And even though our company is privately held in Japan, Kentucky gives us a good base for growing our global reach. The proprietary knowledge you find here and the (advantageous) logistics costs of operating here make it a very attractive place to do business.”
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 Corp.
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 Co.
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 Corp.
Construction attachments, mining, and conveyor products
Covington
escocorp.com
Ethos Labs
Drug tests
Newport
ethos-labs.com
Evenflo Feeding Inc.
Infant equipment 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 Corp.
Belts, hose, hydraulics
Hebron
gates.com
General Cable
Copper, aluminum and fiber optic wire and cable
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
Indy Honeycomb
Engine seal, structural & other applications of honeycomb
Covington
indyhoneycomb.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 Corp.
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 Corp.
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, production, medical devices
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
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 Co.
Red Baron Pizza
Florence
theschwanfoodcompany.com
US Playing Card Co.
Erlanger
usplayingcard.com
ViaCord
Umbilical cord blood preservation
Hebron
viacord.com
The Waddington Group
High-quality disposable 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 Co.
Packaging
Hebron
zumbiel.com
Source: Northern Kentucky Tri-ED and Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce
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