State and local officials along with leadership from Zotefoams Inc. cut the ribbon Wednesday on the $13.8 million expansion of the company’s North American headquarters in Walton.
This year also represents Zotefoams’ 25th anniversary of its operations in Northern Kentucky.
“Continuing Kentucky’s historic economic momentum isn’t just about recruiting new companies, it’s also about supporting our longtime partners who have supported our people through good jobs and ongoing growth,” said Gov. Andy Beshear. “This ribbon-cutting marks an exciting next step for Zotefoams, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary of operating in Walton this year. I want to thank Zotefoams and its leadership for their commitment to Kentucky, and I am looking forward to 25 more years of success.”
“The manufacturing industry is a crucial part of Kentucky’s economy and one of the state’s largest employers,” said Lt. Gov. Jaqueline Coleman. “I am thrilled to join Zotefoams to cut the ribbon on their recent expansion, which will set them up for future success and create quality jobs for Kentuckians. Congratulations to Zotefoams and the Northern Kentucky community on this wonderful milestone.”
The expansion enables the operation to become a full end-to-end manufacturing facility, increasing output by more than 20% and giving North American customers shorter lead times, greater supply chain independence and locally produced materials. The expansion of the facility also allows for the addition of a low-pressure autoclave and washer line. An additional extrusion line is expected to be operational this month, which will add two new jobs to the location and represent another $2.8 million in capital investment. The company’s foam materials are currently used by Boeing, Airbus and Nike, and since the company’s original expansion in 2015, the employee count has increased from 24 to 100.
The expansion was aided by the Bluegrass State Skills Corp. (BSSC), a program through the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic that provides incentives to support Kentucky business’ efforts to help new and existing employees stay competitive through flexible, employer-driven skills-upgrade training.
“This investment marks an important milestone for Zotefoams as we celebrate 25 years in Kentucky and continue to strengthen our presence in North America,” said Ronan Cox, group CEO of Zotefoams plc. “By expanding our manufacturing capabilities in Walton, we are bringing production closer to our customers, improving responsiveness and creating a more resilient supply chain. The confidence we are demonstrating through this investment reflects the strength of our North American business, the dedication of our team and the long-term opportunities we see across the markets we serve. We are proud to continue investing in Walton and grateful for the support we have received from our employees, customers and partners throughout this journey.”
BE NKY Growth Partnership