Tru-Tone Finishing Inc., a family owned provider of industrial e-coating, will invest $4.6 million to establish a new facility in Lexington, KY, creating 120 jobs. It will be the company’s first operation in Kentucky.
“We have been targeting locations that will allow us to serve our existing customers, as well as expand our business in the Southeast, and Kentucky lets us to do that,” said Tru-Tone President Greg Klemenswicz, the second generation of family ownership. “The Lexington facility also made it possible to reach parts of the Midwest and East. We are very excited to be growing and building on our relationships with companies in the region and to become a part of the city and state business communities.”
Tru-Tone provides e-coating (electrophoretic painting), powder coating and some finishing processes for a variety of industrial clients. The company will initially implement an e-coat metal finishing process to serve the surrounding region at an existing 70,000-square-foot building on Baker Court. Tru-Tone expects that line to open this summer, with powder coating capabilities added in 2019. Ultimately the Lexington plant will operate three 35-employee shifts.
E-coating is widely used in the auto industry for corrosion resistance, but also gained popularity in construction, telecom and agricultural equipment. A large part of Tru-Tone’s business will initially come from automotive suppliers, but will eventually include a mix of general industrial clients, according to Klemenswicz. The facility will also offer some limited support activities, including part washing and finishing.
“Tru-Tone’s exciting announcement is further evidence that our automotive and industrial sectors continue to attract strong, thriving companies to Kentucky,” said Gov. Matt Bevin. “Our logistical advantages, strong workforce and increasingly business-friendly climate, have made the commonwealth a popular destination. Tru-Tone’s story of sound family stewardship and intelligent, steady growth is an example worth honoring and emulating. We are grateful for their decision to invest their human and financial capital in Kentucky.”
To encourage the investment and job growth in the community, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) in December preliminarily approved the company for tax incentives up to $500,000 through the Kentucky Business Investment program. The performance-based incentive allows a company to keep a portion of its investment over the agreement term through corporate income tax credits and wage assessments by meeting job and investment targets.
In addition, Tru-Tone can receive resources from the Kentucky Skills Network. Through the Kentucky Skills Network, companies can receive no-cost recruitment and job placement services, reduced-cost customized training and job training incentives. In fiscal 2017, the Kentucky Skills Network provided training for more than 120,000 Kentuckians and 5,700 companies from a variety of industry sectors.
Relocating or Expanding Your Business In Kentucky
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