Manufacturing Still Going Strong in SW Indiana
Published Apr 16, 2008
As the Southwest Indiana region continues to successfully diversify its economy, one longtime major player – manufacturing – remains a driving force.
The area’s strong workforce, central location and multiple transportation options have long been central to attracting and keeping a variety of major manufacturing operations.
Now, even as other parts of the country are seeing cutbacks and closings, expansion and diversification are the watchwords around here.
That’s certainly the case at SABIC Innovative Plastics in Mount Vernon. With 1,400 employees – more than 100 of whom hold doctorates – the multi-use operation’s research, development and production operations are going as strong as ever, says Mike Walsh, general manager of American operations.
“This is one of the company’s larger and more diverse facilities,” Walsh says. “We do a great deal of new product development here in terms of lab work, and we make four major product lines here.
The company has more than $2.5 billion invested in the facility, so there’s a lot going on.”
SABIC produces a variety of polycarbonate special products in Mount Vernon, everything from engineered thermoplastic pellets – which become end products in the health care, construction and automotive industries – to resins that wind up under car hoods.
It’s just as busy over at The Babcock & Wilcox Co. (B&W), which makes heavy components for the commercial nuclear industry. The Mount Vernon company operates under the Babcock & Wilcox Nuclear Operations Group, Inc.
“The employment projections for the Mount Vernon facility would indicate a high demand for skilled labor, technical and professional personnel,” says General Manager Michael Keene.
“We’ve been very fortunate to be able to draw from the tri-state area for many positions.”
Another visible sign of long-term commitment to the region is the new visitors center planned for Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana, in Princeton. The plant will mark its 10th anniversary in 2008.
Story by Joe Morris
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