Manufacturers and site selectors look for low cost of doing business, favorable laws and regulations, a solid base of existing manufacturers, talented workforce, proprietary knowledge, prime location and logistics – in some cases shipping overseas overnight – and other factors when determining where to produce their goods. Northern Kentucky checks all the boxes, and then some.
Many powerhouse American and international manufacturers have chosen to locate in Northern Kentucky, and many more have logistics and distribution centers including Perfetti Van Melle, Mazak Corp., Safran Landing Systems, L’Oreal USA, Tyson/Hillshire Foods, The Schwan Food Co., Evenflo Feeding, Architectural Aluminum Products, Road ID, Amazon, Bosch, Citi, DHL, Mubea, Cabot Corp., Indy Honeycomb and WILD Flavors.
In 2017 and 2018 alone, the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development reported another $500 million in new manufacturing investments.
And the firms already in Northern Kentucky have long-term staying power, such as Blue Grass Metals Inc. In March 2018, the 25-year-old wire forms supplier to the automotive industry expanded its Boone County operation with an investment of more than $4 million and 15 new jobs.
And L’Oréal in April 2017 announced it would build the largest commercial solar array in Kentucky at its Florence-based manufacturing plant.
Mubea is the area’s largest manufacturer, employing more than 1,300, producing heavy-duty products for lightweight construction. CEO of Mubea North America Doug Cain says the company’s success is a “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.”
Safran Landing Systems contributes heavily to the state’s large and growing aerospace prowess. According to the Cabinet for Economic Development, Kentucky’s aerospace exports increased 183 percent the past five years, and the state has seen a 63 percent employee increase in the private aerospace products and parts manufacturing industry since 2002.
Overall the state has a manufacturing workforce of 250,000, including more than 18,500 industry-specific workers.
Northern Kentucky’s automotive sector makes a massive contribution to making the state the nation’s number three vehicle builder – Kentucky is the top producer of cars, light trucks and SUVs per capita. Statewide, the sector employs nearly 95,000 people at more than 500 companies. In 2017, auto-related exports totaled $5.5 billion.
The Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce understands what these numbers mean for the region and the state. Its Northern Kentucky International Trade Association hosted a seminar on Japan’s influence on the Kentucky auto industry. NKITA helps members achieve international trade goals through connections with global business resources and high-impact technical programming in the region.
Meanwhile, care is taken also with industrial waste processes in Northern Kentucky. River Metals Recycle in summer 2018 celebrated its Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program (SHARP) certification for excellence in workplace safety. River Metals provides scrap-generating businesses a cost-effective way to market their recyclable resources.
Another priority is keeping the crucial manufacturing workforce pipeline flowing, a big job that’s done in large part thanks to the training efforts of the decade-old Kentucky Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (KY FAME). KY FAME has a Northern Kentucky chapter that includes Boone, Campbell, Carroll, Gallatin, Grant, Kenton, Owen and Pendleton counties. KY FAME is a partnership of regional manufacturers whose purpose is to implement career pathway, apprenticeship-style educational programs that will create a pipeline of highly skilled workers. Member companies include Bosch, Mubea, Linamar, Safran, HAHN Automation, L’Oréal, Zotefoams, Steinkamp Molding, Nucor, Skilcraft, Diversified Composites, Kraus Maffei, Steinert US and Perfetti Van Melle.
Porcelain enamel coatings for appliances, water heaters and boilers
Cooler and freezer insulating panels and doors
Manufacture and distribute plastic packaging for the beverage, personal care and home care industry
Analytical Solutions And Providers (ASAP)
Laboratory equipment to the forensic, chemical and petrochemical markets
Cargo restraint strapping and other cargo containment equipment
UV, water, air and surface purification systems
Coping, gravel stop, gutter, downspout, fascia systems
Impact acrylic, general purpose acrylic, ABS composite sheet
Tubular stamp and multi-slide parts
Sub-contract, short run assembly, packaging, labeling and assembly labor
Manufacture and ship smart toothbrushes
Belleview Sand & Gravel Inc.
Blitz® bonded metallic powder coatings, Blitz® aluminum pigments
Wire forms and metal stampings
BOGE Rubber & Plastics USA LLC
Rubber and metal bushings, engine mounts and plastics
Speed changer, industrial high-speed drive & gear manufacturing, USA headquarters
Bourbon, rye, and other whiskey specialties
Dust collector bags, liquid filter cloths, spare collector parts
Advanced polymer technology to produce high-performance plastic materials
Car audio, multimedia, information products
Specialty films, extrusion coatings, custom-printing, engineered laminations
Wallboard and joint compound materials
Sheet metal for heating, AC and roofing
Paper tubes, paperboard products, cores, caps
Filtration, coolant and fuel additive technology
Tooling, rubber injection molds and injection molding machines
Pultruded composite products, carbon fiber equipment
DURO Bag a Novolex Brand
Eaton Asphalt Paving Co. Inc.
Construction attachments, mining, and conveyor products
Fastening tools for auto assembly lines
Infant equipment, baby care and juvenile products
Professional dry cleaning detergents, wet cleaning soaps and spotting chemicals
Structural steel fabrication, metal fabrication
Automatic screw machine products, produce specialty fasteners and inserts for the automotive industry
Machining and assembly systems, aerospace and automotive production equipment
Decanter centrifuges, separators, belt presses
Safety access and control systems
Louisville Slugger Instructional items and pitching machines
General Cable, a Company of the Prysmian Group
Copper, aluminum and fiber optic wire and cable for energy, industrial, specialty and communications markets
Trade show exhibits and store fixtures
Rigid industrial packaging, steel drums
High quality portion control beef products
Radio systems for wireless control of machinery
Military air conditioning, heaters, decontamination units
Seal porosity in metal casings
Quarter turn rotary electric actuators used for valve and damper automation
Steel for plastic & rubber molds
Polyester resins used to make windmill blades
Select halogen specialty chemicals, iodine
J.A.C.C., Inc.
Home and auto glass solutions
Jackson Tool & Mold LLC
Tool and mold, CNC machining, machine parts
Stub ends, buttweld pipe fittings
Johnson Controls, Inc. – Power Solutions
Fanuc and Siemens CNC retrofitting
Blended resins and solutions for graphic arts
Structural & limited service steel pipe
Liberty Plastics Molding Corp Inc.
Plastic injection molds, molding & prototypes
Security systems for parking garages
Specialty adhesive tapes, precision die-cuts
Clutches and brakes, combination air set clutch/spring set brakes and mechanical friction torque limiters
Injection molded caps and closures for personal care products
CNC turning centers, vertical machining centers, horizontal machining centers, Multi-Tasking machines, 5-axis machines
Composite engine and aerostructure components
Axle, brake and suspension solutions
Metal Solutions Design & Fabrication LLC
DOT certified metal containers for nuclear waste & other hazardous products
Lightweight construction specialist providing heavy duty spring components and related products
Transmission springs and hose clamps
National Band & Tag Co.
Poultry leg and wing bands, bands used for wildlife, ID tags
Cracker and bread crumbs, batter mixes
Communications systems and A/V integrator
North American Stainless L.P.
Cylinder bases for printing and converting industries
Paul Michels & Sons Inc.
Isolated power system design and manufacturer
Corrugated “point of purchase” displays
Precast & prestressed concrete products
R & R Design & Manufacturing
R.A. Jones & Co.
Ready-mixed concrete & precast septic tank; hauling
Measuring equipment, radiation gauges and measuring instruments
Roller bearings, slewing rings–large diameter
Fiber cans, tubes and converted paper products
F.N. Sheppard & Co. Inc.
Surgical products, surgical device production, contract medical device manufacturing
Water heaters, boilers and storage tanks
Machine tools for milling, turning, boring and grinding
Dry magnetic drum separator and sensor sorting solutions
3-D rubber/metal & plastic injection molds, blow molds, foam molds
Contracts with the PGA Tour
Ornamental iron fencing and gates
Custom metal, aluminum and steel fabricating; welding and fire truck bodies
Publish foldout & map booklets
TMK IPSCO Tubulars Kentucky Inc.
Steel pipes for oil and gas industry
World’s leading maker of cyclic olefin copolymer
Re-manufactures LCD panels for computer video displays and television LCD panes
Specialty valves, actuators, actuation controls
Awards, crystal awards, acrylic awards, trophies, plaques, corporate awards, gifts, promotional items
Paul Tuemler L.P. Gas Inc.
Custom commercial interior and exterior metal, and drywall partitions
W B Jones Spring Co. Inc.
Compression, extension and torsion springs
Metal stampings and tubular spacers
High-quality plastic, disposable cups, plates, cutlery, serving ware
Capital equipment for molton aluminum industry
Wilder Hot Mix Asphalt Plant
Hot mix asphalt paving mixture, construction services
High end fireplaces, grills, HVAC
Electric shuttle and cargo vans
Cross-linked block foams, world leader
The C.W. Zumbiel Company
Source: Northern Kentucky Tri-ED and Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. This list may not be exhaustive.
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