News 2013 
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German-based Festo Corporation Plans $50 Million Regional Service Center In Mason, Ohio

(06/10/2013) Festo Corporation, a German-based company, plans to locate its new $50 million Regional Service Center along the high-tech I-71 corridor approximately 20 miles northeast of downtown Cincinnati in Ohio, where the firm plans to create 250 jobs.
The company will build an estimated 175,000 square foot state-of-the-art facility on a 45-acre campus in Mason, Ohio. The energy efficient and environmentally friendly facility is scheduled to open in 2015. It will double the company’s present capacity and serve the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
“We are so pleased that Festo has chosen the Cincinnati region for the home of their next U.S. facility, and we welcome the strength and excitement they will bring to our advanced manufacturing cluster,” said Denyse Ferguson, Senior Vice President and Executive Director of the Cincinnati USA Partnership. “As the leading worldwide supplier of automation technology, Festo is well known for its innovation and technological expertise. We look forward to continuing to partner with them to grow their U.S. presence.”
Cincinnati USA Partnership partnered with the City of Mason and JobsOhio to ensure that competitive incentive packages and innovative local provisions were maximize in the attraction of this high-tech investment.
"Festo’s recent announcement to establish its newest North American facility in Ohio reflects the strength of our advanced manufacturing workforce and strategic location in the U.S., which will allow Festo to better serve its customers,” said John Minor, JobsOhio President and Chief Investment Officer. “JobsOhio and its network partners look forward to strengthening its relationship with Festo and supporting its needs to succeed and grow here.”
“This kind of job creation is exactly why many entrepreneurs and businesses invest in the Cincinnati USA Partnership,” said John F. Barrett, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, Western & Southern Financial Group, and investor in the Cincinnati USA Partnership. “We share the same vision for Cincinnati’s growth and economic development – it is important for all of us to play our part.”
Festo Corporation will maintain its corporate headquarters and associated front office jobs, including engineering, information technology and administration, on Long Island, NY. Present Festo employees whose jobs will move to the new RSC in 2015 will have the opportunity to apply for those positions in Ohio.
“This is a very exciting time for Festo and for the Cincinnati region. Festo's expertise is unprecedented, and we look forward to helping them grow their customer base here, as they assist our companies with maximizing their productivity and competitiveness,” said Trevor Hamilton, Vice President of the Cincinnati USA Partnership and cluster lead for Advanced Manufacturing.

Brazilian Borghetti Turbos Open in North Carolina

(05/08/2013) Brazilian-based Borghetti Turbos North America Opens North Carolina Manufacturing Facility Brazilian-based Borghetti Turbos North America, Inc., a manufacturer of turbochargers, gas turbines, compressors and other related automotive parts, will invest $3.7 million to open a new facility in Lincoln County, North Carolina, with plans to create 127 jobs.
Borghetti Turbos is a privately owned company with its international headquarters in Sao Marcos, Brazil. The company plans to open its first North American manufacturing facility in Lincoln County to manufacture turbochargers for its customer base in the U.S., South Africa and Eastern Europe. The company’s products are marketed under the Master Power brand and used in commercial trucks, high-performance automobiles, as well as marine and industrial applications.
“Our highly-skilled workforce is a major reason why North Carolina is home to such a strong automotive manufacturing cluster,” said Sharon Decker, N.C. Secretary of Commerce. “Our strong transportation options are also a key factor in Borghetti Turbo’s decision to locate in North Carolina and we must continue to invest in job training programs, education and critical infrastructure.”
“The State of North Carolina understood that other states and regions were offering comparable incentive packages. Therefore, in the end, the intangibles related to the Charlotte region as a whole and Lincoln County gave North Carolina the advantage,” said Eduardo Borghetti, President of Borghetti Turbos North America. “Quality of life attractions including professional sports, a similar year-round climate as Brazil, cultural arts and proximity to the beach and the mountains were among some of the key reasons that led to our final selection.”
The project was made possible in part by a performance-based grant from the One North Carolina Fund of up to $99,000. 

Japan-Based Automaker Subaru Invests $400 Million to Produce Impreza In Lafayette, Indiana 

(05/09/2013) Japan-based automaker Subaru will invest approximately $400 million to increase the workforce at its Lafayette, Indiana, manufacturing campus and bring production of its popular Impreza model to North America.
The automaker said will expand its manufacturing center, known as SIA-Subaru Indiana Automotive, to produce its popular compact sedans and hatchbacks in the US, creating 900 new jobs. The company said its announcement comes on the heels of a banner year and new milestones in its history as sales continue to climb. Record sales and a gain in market share for Subaru in North America led parent company, Fuji Heavy Industries, Ltd., to invest $400 million to build the Impreza at its North American production facility, Subaru Indiana Automotive, and increase the plant's capacity by approximately 100,000 vehicles annually.
Expansion will involve increasing SIA's total square footage by over half a million square feet. The project will also involve the installation of new state-of-the-art equipment, primarily in the paint and body assembly sections, as well as changes to improve overall process flow.
"The success of the Subaru brand can be credited, in part, to the dedication of SIA's highly skilled associates," SIA's executive vice president, Tom Easterday said. "Our associates are very excited about the opportunity to build the Subaru Impreza at SIA and will remain committed to the same high level of quality, safety and teamwork that goes into every Subaru built at SIA." Subaru models currently produced at SIA include the Outback, Legacy and Tribeca, while the Impreza is currently built only at Subaru's Yajima and Gunma plants in Japan.
"The Subaru Impreza has been a favoured choice of many Canadians as it delivers more than what's expected in a compact car," said Shiro Ohta, president and CEO of Subaru Canada, Inc. "FHI's decision to move production to SIA illustrates their confidence in Subaru's North American market as we continue to set sales records and gain market share."
Construction of the planned expansion is slated to begin this fall and is expected to be completed by the end of 2016. Meanwhile, Construction continues on the $75 million expansion project announced last May, which will increase SIA's capacity from 156,000 to 180,000 Subaru units annually without overtime.

Germany-based HP Pelzer Automotive Systems Invests $28 Million In Athens, Tenn. 

(04/15/2013) HP Pelzer Automotive Systems plans to invest $28 million in a new 185,000-square-foot manufacturing facility at the Mt. Verd Industrial Park in Athens, Tennessee. HP Pelzer, a supplier of automotive acoustic and interior trim parts, will create 200 jobs at the McMinn County facility.
The Athens location will supply interior automotive products to numerous auto assembly plants including several in the Southeast. The company is beginning site prep this month with completion targeted for September. Headquartered in Witten, Germany, the HP Pelzer Group operates 37 manufacturing sites and five technical centers in 18 countries. In the U.S., the McMinn County site will join other HP Pelzer facilities in Michigan, Georgia and Kansas.
 “Athens, Tenn. is the perfect location for us to manufacture and supply parts to our automotive partners. We are quite pleased to make it our new home,” HP Pelzer Chief Operating Officer Steve Paladino said. “I would like to thank all the professionals at the state of Tennessee, McMinn County, city of Athens, Tennessee Valley Authority and the Southeast Industrial Development Association that worked so diligently to make this project a reality.” “Tennessee offers the automotive industry unparalleled logistical advantages and a strong manufacturing base with a quality workforce,” Community Development Commissioner Bill Hagerty said. “I appreciate HP Pelzer recognizing our state’s inherent strengths in the auto sector and the competitive edge that Tennessee’s business friendly environment provides.”
“TVA congratulates HP Pelzer on their decision to locate a facility in Athens, Tennessee,” said TVA Senior Vice President of Economic Development John Bradley. “TVA and Athens Utilities Board are privileged to partner with the state of Tennessee, the McMinn County Economic Development Authority, the Southeast Industrial Development Association and other community leaders to facilitate HP Pelzer’s location and growth in McMinn County.”

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