Daifuku Wynright picks Hobart, Indiana for manufacturing complex and growth

Posted on Sep 20, 2018 in Nuts & Bolts

Wynright Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Daifuku North America, announced plans to expand its North American manufacturing capabilities with a purpose-built, state-of-the-art manufacturing complex and office in Hobart, IN. The Hobart location maximizes operational efficiencies and favorably positions Daifuku Wynright in a facility with the ability to handle future growth opportunities. The new facility will consolidate two manufacturing operations under one roof, creating up to 582 new jobs in Indiana by the end of 2021.

“Indiana is a leader in manufacturing, with one in five Hoosiers employed in the industry, and I’m excited to welcome Daifuku Wynright to our great state,” Governor Eric J. Holcomb said. “With a pro-growth business climate, dynamic communities and land ripe for development, Indiana is the perfect destination for companies like Daifuku Wynright looking to expand and leverage a skilled workforce to propel its success.”

The company, which manufactures intelligent material handling systems, will invest $26 million to construct and equip a 320,400-square-foot facility on 44 acres at the NorthWind Crossings Business Park along Interstate-65 in Hobart. Once complete, the new facility will significantly increase Daifuku Wynright’s production capacity in North America, allowing the company to support increased demand from its clients.

Daifuku Wynright plans to break ground on the new facility this fall and begin production in Indiana by the end of 2019. The company anticipates needing to fill administrative, engineering and manufacturing positions locally as the Hobart facility ramps up and begins production. 

“We are excited to expand Daifuku Wynright’s North American operations, and our team is looking forward to the addition of a state-of-the-art facility to support our growing business,” said Kevin Ambrose, President and CEO of Wynright Corporation. “It was important for us to expand in the Chicagoland area, and we worked hard to find a property that satisfied our growth expectations while preserving jobs and remaining cost effective. Once we had identified a potential site, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation helped us quantify and validate the great schools, desirable cost of living and easy access to interstates that were present in Hobart. They were extremely supportive of our efforts.”

Established in 1972, Wynright Corporation helps companies build long-term efficiencies into their space usage to deliver improved productivity. The company designs, manufactures, integrates and installs a full spectrum of intralogistics solutions, offering both Daifuku Wynright-branded and third-party equipment to meet client needs, including leading-edge conveyor and sortation systems, automated storage and retrieval systems, voice- and light-directed order fulfillment equipment, PLC controls and robotics, and mezzanines and structures. Headquartered in Elk Grove, Illinois, just outside Chicago, Daifuku Wynright has regional offices and manufacturing locations in Illinois, Indiana, California, Texas, New Hampshire, Kentucky, Michigan and Florida. Daifuku Wynright and Daifuku North America, headquartered in Novi, Michigan, are subsidiaries of Osaka, Japan-based Daifuku Co., Ltd.

“The City of Hobart is pleased to welcome Daifuku Wynright, a world-class company, to our city. I am proud that Wynright has chosen Hobart as the location of their new facility. We have worked diligently with the company over the past year to bring this project to the finish line. Wynright’s investment will result, not only in the addition of millions of dollars of increased assessed value to the City, but also in the creation of hundreds of construction and full-time jobs in Hobart,” noted Hobart Mayor Brian Snedecor. “Wynright’s development is a capstone project for Northwind Crossings, a premier industrial park within our community. I appreciate Wynright’s commitment to Hobart and look forward to working with the company in the years to come,” concluded Mayor Snedecor.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation (IEDC) offered Wynright Corporation up to $5.9 million in conditional tax credits and up to $100,000 in training grants based on the company’s job creation plans. These incentives are performance-based, meaning until workers are hired, the company is not eligible to claim incentives. The City of Hobart and NIPSCO approved additional incentives.