Innovate Manufacturing Inc. will locate its first U.S. headquarters in Knoxville in an effort to be closer to its consumers. Innovate Manufacturing, a China-based injection molding company, will invest $4.7 million in building upgrades and renovations and create 50 new jobs in Knox County, TN.
Innovate Manufacturing has four plastics factories and an engineering office in China, but the company chose to move a portion of its operations to the U.S. due to lower shipping and energy costs and proximity to its client base.
“Innovate Manufacturing is delighted to locate its first facility outside of China here in Knoxville,” said Innovate Manufacturing Vice President of Engineering John Lin. “By locating closer to our customers, we anticipate more growth as demand for localized manufacturing continues. The central location, competitive electricity costs, and business-friendly policies of East Tennessee helped us make our decision, and we anticipate the manufacturing community here to grow as well.”
Innovate Manufacturing produces hydration bottles, kitchen products, pet supplies, tools and other goods. The company’s Knoxville facility will specialize in injection molding, injection stretch blow molding and extrusion blow molding. Tooling is already underway, and production will begin in late September.
“Onshoring is gaining momentum with the reduction of cost burdens for companies manufacturing their products here in the U.S.,” said Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner Randy Boyd. “Tennessee is beginning to generate significant job growth from the onshoring movement, and in the past 12 months, the state has added nearly 1,300 jobs from China-based projects alone. We welcome Innovate Manufacturing to Tennessee and thank the company for choosing to invest in our state and create new jobs in Knoxville.”
