JEFFERSONVILLE —
A new, more efficient fuel injection system is expected to be put into six million vehicles in the next four years. And they’ll be making it in Jeffersonville.
Automotive parts manufacturer Advanced Metal Technologies will expand its Jeffersonville plant, investing $19 million and creating 350 jobs.
The hires will start in the coming months and be phased in between now and 2015, according to Neil Whitesell, owner and chief executive officer of Whitesell Group, which owns AMT.
The company has only been in Jeffersonville for a short time, acquiring the assets of MKM Machine Tool Company as it faced financial struggles last December. It will lease, renovate and equip the 310,000 square-foot former MKM plant at 100 Technology Way. The 350 jobs it’s creating are in addition to the 130 associates — including 106 former MKM employees — it’s already hired.
“The future that we’re predicting is going to be extremely bright,” Whitesell said.
Whitesell Group has two other facilities in Indiana, in Avon and Plainfield, which manufacture parts for the HVAC and elevator industries.
Among other parts, Jeffersonville’s plant will produce parts for a new high-pressure direct fuel injection system. The system, in use in about a million vehicles on the road today, mists fuel into an engine. The result is a much more fuel efficient delivery, he said.
He said the system is becoming the industry standard. General Motors, Ford, Chrysler and Honda all use the technology, he said, but are at various stages of implementing it into vehicles.
Gov. Mitch Daniels, who spoke at a press conference where AMT’s expansion was announced, called Whitesell’s story inspiring.
“Look at what he’s built and what he’s brought to our state,” Daniels said.
The governor noted that Whitesell was an inventor, with hundreds of patents.
“This injection system is in large part his invention,” Daniels said.
“It is no longer a surprise to anyone when a great company like AMT chooses Indiana, given seven consecutive years of record jobs commitments and top rating in every analysis of business attractiveness,” said Daniels. “But you’re going to see more and more businesses select Southeast Indiana, which is rapidly becoming one of our most requested sites.”
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered AMT up to $200,000 in training grants because of the job creation plans. The incentives are performance-based, meaning until Hoosiers are hired, the company is not eligible to claim incentives.
“Advance Metals, we welcome you to Jeffersonville with open arms,” Mayor Mike Moore said at the press conference.
Moore declared the recession over, at least in Jeffersonville. AMT’s announcement comes on the heels of Amazon.com’s recent announcement that it will open its fifth Indiana fulfillment center in Jeffersonville adding more than 1,000 new jobs in the next few years.
“We’re recovering and we’re recovering strong,” said Moore.
Production, engineering, sales, administrative and management positions will be filled at the plant over the next few years. Interested applicants should send resumes to hr@advmetaltech.com.
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Related Photos
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Gov. Mitch Daniels talks with Advanced Metal Technologies of Indiana employee Ray Moss after a press conference announcing AMT's plans to invest $19 million in its Jeffersonville operation and create an additional 350 jobs by 2015. Staff photo by C.E. Branham
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Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, right, and Jeffersonville Mayor Mike Moore applaud the announcement made by Advanced Metal Technologies, Inc., Friday to invest $19 million dollars in its Jeffersonville plant at 100 Technology Way. Staff photo by C.E. Branham
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"With our world-class design, engineering and manufacturing capabilities, the future looks bright for AMT," said Neil Whitesell, owner and CEO of Whitesell Group. Staff photo by C.E. Branham
Discussion
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