Companies Expanding in Northeast Indiana
Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowFour businesses have announced plans to expand their northeast Indiana operations. The companies are investing a total of nearly $20 million and creating a combined 126 jobs. They include furniture, retail fixture and suspension parts manufacturers as well as a gourmet food company.
April 15, 2015
News Release
Fort Wayne, Ind. — Four companies today announced plans to expand their operations and create 126 new jobs in northeast Indiana.
“As the home to one of the most affordable business climates in the nation, it’s no wonder that companies keep selecting Indiana as their home for job creation,” said Governor Mike Pence. “Here in the Hoosier State, these businesses find Indiana’s world-class workforce that can create everything from cabinets and truck suspensions to caramel corn and furniture, products that are sold across the nation and around the world.”
Commercial casework and retail store fixture manufacturer Advanced Cabinet Systems (ACS) is investing $1.5 million to expand its Marion, Indiana based manufacturing operation. The new 100,000 square-foot facility, which opens this month, will expand the company’s total footprint and enable it to meet growing demand from K-12 schools, hospitals and retail stores across the country for its products. The move will also allow ACS to consolidate offices with its parent company, JGBowers, Inc. With its growth, ACS will create up to 30 new jobs by 2016. The company, which employs more than 50 Hoosiers, has already begun hiring for cabinet manufacturing positions. Interested applicants with woodworking experience may apply through Peoplelink Staffing’s Marion location or online at www.peoplelinkstaffing.com.
Hendrickson USA, a manufacturer of suspension parts and systems for the heavy truck and bus industry, is investing $11.3 million to construct and equip a 57,000 square-foot addition to its 122,000 square-foot facility at 101 S. Progress Drive in Kendallville. With its growth, the company will also install new equipment at its second, 60,000 square-foot Kendallville facility to increase production capacity of rubber bushings for truck suspensions manufactured around the world. A subsidiary of Itasca, Illinois-based Boler Corporation, Hendrickson USA serves heavy truck and bus manufacturers including Navistar, Kenworth, Peterbilt, Volvo, Mack, Freightliner and Blue Bird. The company, which currently employs 180 Hoosiers in Kendallville, plans to begin hiring later this year for manufacturing, lab technician and engineering positions, creating up to 41 new jobs by 2019. Interested applicants may apply online at www.hendrickson-intl.com/work-for-Hendrickson.
Snax in Pax, a producer of gourmet caramel corn and fudge, is investing $3.8 million to construct and equip a 27,000 square-foot addition to its Topeka facility, nearly doubling the size of its operation. The 22-year-old company’s expansion is currently under construction, with plans for the addition to open in June. Snax in Pax’s products are currently sold at grocery stores around the nation, with growth in the caramel corn market currently concentrated in the value-priced sector. The company, which currently employs 15 Hoosiers, plans to create up to 21 new jobs by 2017. Interested applicants may apply in person at the company’s Topeka facility.
Furniture manufacturer Transformations by Wieland is investing $2.4 million to renovate a 76,000 square-foot facility in Fort Wayne. The new facility, which the company is moving into this week, consolidates the company’s operations from three buildings into one, moving all manufacturing, shipping, customer service, marketing and research and development under one roof that is more than double the size of its current facility in rural Allen County. Building renewable and recoverable furniture for university residence halls and lounges, Transformations by Wieland is also currently enjoying growth manufacturing furniture for other commercial markets. The company, which currently employs 56 Hoosiers, plans to create up to 34 new jobs by 2018 and has already begun hiring.
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Advanced Cabinet Systems, a division of JG Bowers, Inc., up to $150,000 in conditional tax credits and up to $100,000 in training grants based on the company’s job creation plans. Hendrickson USA, LLC was offered up to $325,000 in conditional tax credits based on its job creation plans. Snax in Pax, Inc. was offered up to $100,000 in conditional tax credits based on the company’s job creation plans. Transformations by Wieland, Inc. was offered up to $225,000 in conditional tax credits based on its job creation plans. These incentives are performance-based, meaning until Hoosiers are hired, the company is ineligible to claim incentives.
The city of Marion approved additional incentives for Advanced Cabinet Systems at the request of Grant County Economic Growth Council. The city of Kendallville will consider additional incentives for Hendrickson USA at the request of the Noble County Economic Development Corporation. LaGrange County approved additional incentives for Snax in Pax at the request of the LaGrange County Economic Development Corporation. The city of Fort Wayne approved additional incentives for Transformations by Wieland at the request of Greater Fort Wayne, Inc.
About Advanced Cabinet Systems
Advanced Cabinet Systems is located in Marion, Indiana and has been manufacturing casework and fixture products since 1983. Its facility practices LEAN manufacturing and has received AWI Premium Certification. Its retail fixture division specializes in store fixtures, floor plan layout, feature and focus displays, and cashwraps. The casework division specializes in casework, millwork and solid surface fabrication. ACS is owned by JGBowers, INC, a family owned construction business founded in Marion, Indiana.
About Hendrickson USA
Everyday around the world, millions of Hendrickson USA suspensions carry countless loads of freight and raw materials off-road and over the highways. Hendrickson USA supplies durable, lightweight, high-performing suspension systems and components to the major North and South American, European, Asian and Australian medium- and heavy-duty truck and trailer OEMs and fleets.
About Snax in Pax
Snax In Pax is located in Topeka, Indiana: “The Heart of Amish Country.” Out here the pace is just a little slower, folks are friendly and always quick with a “Hello!”. Standing firm on the traditions of honesty, hard work, and quality ingredients, Snax In Pax produces some of the finest products money can buy.
Our state-of-the-art processes coupled with good old fashioned recipes mean you will be enjoying a snack that will keep you wanting more! Out here in Amish country, you can be sure that all of our products are fresh and as close to “homemade” as possible!
About Transformations by Wieland
Transformations by Wieland is an innovative manufacturer that provides renewable and recoverable furniture to the institutional market. The company’s furniture can be disassembled, which allows it to last five to seven times longer than most furniture. Owned and operated by the Brace Wieland family, the company was founded in 1997 and shares a four-generation-long history of upholstered furniture manufacturing.
About IEDC
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) leads the state of Indiana’s economic development efforts, focusing on helping companies grow in and locate to the state. Governed by a 12-member board chaired by Governor Mike Pence, the IEDC manages many initiatives, including performance-based tax credits, workforce training grants, public infrastructure assistance, and talent attraction and retention efforts. For more information about the IEDC, visit www.iedc.in.gov
Source: Indiana Economic Development Corp.