A German steel processor broke ground today\yesterday on a new manufacturing plant at the Kentucky Transpark in Bowling Green.
Bilstein is Europe’s largest supplier of cold-rolled steel products. The company will build a 250,000-square-foot facility to better serve its automotive industry customers in North America. Company officials call it their first major investment outside Europe.
Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear says Bowling Green was the ideal location.
"It's located here on the interstate of I-65. It's got a wonderful university in Western Kentucky University," noted Beshear. "Kentucky is not only the center of manufacturing, it's the center of a pipeline all the way from Detroit down south of us where the automobile alley runs these days."
Bilstein is making a $130 million investment in the steel plant and will create 110 jobs.
Meanwhile, one of Logan County’s largest employers is adding nearly 200 jobs. Logan Aluminum is expanding its operations to become an automotive supplier.
Governor Besehar made the announcement in Russellville Wednesday.
"More and more, vehicles are being made out of aluminum because you need a lighter weight to meet all the fuel requirements the government is putting on there these days to get the mileage necessary," Beshear added.
Logan Aluminum already produces rolled sheets for beverage cans. The company has more than a thousand employees and will add another 190 with the expansion.
