Hendrickson USA Breaks Ground in Somerset
Governor Ernie Fletcher and Acting Commissioner of the Department for New Business Development J.R. Wilhite joined officials of Hendrickson USA, January, 22nd, in breaking ground for a $24.3 million trailer suspension plant in Pulaski County. Hendrickson USA, LLC, a supplier of heavy-duty transportation equipment, will open its newest operation in Summer 2007 in Somerset, bringing 120 new jobs and more than $24.3 million in investment to the Commonwealth. The Boler Company, Hendrickson’s parent company since 1978, is one of the largest privately-held firms in the United States.
Hendrickson will occupy a 160,000 square-foot facility on 19 acres in Somerset’s Valley Oak Industrial Park, where it will produce trailer axles and trailer air suspensions for the heavy-duty transportation industry. Somerset will be Hendrickson’s second facility in Kentucky. In 1998, the Truck Suspension Systems division opened a plant in Lebanon. The Somerset plant becomes the sixth manufacturing plant for Hendrickson Trailer Suspension Systems headquartered in Canton, Ohio, a business unit of Hendrickson based in Itasca, Illinois.
Magnus Hendrickson began manufacturing commercial trucks in 1913 and the company introduced the first tandem suspension in 1926. The company’s unrelenting pursuit of technological leadership is the key to its success. It is a world leader in the industry and major supplier to every North American heavy-truck and trailer OEM, as well as many manufacturers in Europe, Austria, Mexico, Japan, and Latin America. The Hendrickson operation comprises more than 3,000 people, with 21 facilities in the US, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Spain, Australia, and the Pacific Rim.
Gary Gerstenslager, President and Chief Operating Officer, said “Hendrickson maintains a reputation in the industry for producing dependable high quality products, which is a reflection of our employees”. He added “The people in this area exhibit these same values, which is why we are excited about coming to the Somerset community.”
The Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) preliminarily approved Hendrickson USA, LLC, for tax benefits up to $2.4 million under the Kentucky Industrial Development Act (KIDA), an incentive program designed to attract and expand manufacturing operations in the state.
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