Guardian Bikes bringing frame manufacturing to Seymour
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Seymour-based Guardian Bikes is planning to expand operations in Jackson County by launching what it says is the first large-scale bicycle frame manufacturing operation in the United States.
The company said the move is part of an effort to reshore production to the U.S. and reduce reliance on overseas supply chains.
Guardian said earlier this month it has secured $19 million in financing with JPMorganChase for the first phase of the project, which will involve equipping existing buildings on its Seymour campus for frame manufacturing.
“Seymour offers a strategic advantage in logistics, workforce availability, and long-term partnerships. Its location along a major shipping corridor provides proximity to our national distribution network and key suppliers,” a Guardian spokesperson said in an email to Inside INdiana Business. “We also have strong ties to the local community and access to top engineering talent from nearby institutions.”
Guardian Bikes makes a variety of bicycles for kids and employs about 250 people across its footprint, the majority of whom are in Indiana. The Seymour expansion is expected to add 80 jobs across engineering, advanced manufacturing, automation, and support roles.
The spokesperson said the ultimate goal is to build a new, 200,000-square-foot facility for the operation, though a timeline for construction, as well as an estimated cost, was not given.
“The new Seymour facility will be powered by robotic welding, advanced laser-cutting technology, and vertically integrated logistics,” the company said in a news release. “It will produce bicycle frames at scale— using domestic steel and aluminum—creating high-skill jobs and breathing life back into the U.S. industrial base.”
Guardian said that currently, 97% of all bicycles sold in the U.S. are imported. The company added that bringing frame manufacturing to the U.S. will serve as a catalyst for creating a full-scale domestic bicycle supply chain anchored in the Midwest.
Guardian Bikes originally announced it was establishing a presence in Seymour in 2022 and ultimately relocated its headquarters to the site. The company also has distribution centers in California, Pennsylvania, and Indiana, with plans for more in Texas and Florida.