As the self-proclaimed “Air Capital of the World,” Wichita, Kansas needs no introduction to the world of advanced manufacturing. Yet, when it comes to prowess at making things — and making them well — Wichita shares the stage with cities and towns across Kansas.

Aided by business-friendly policies at the state level and a solid, Midwestern workforce, such lesser-known burghs with names like Humboldt, Dodge City, Chanute, Bonner Springs, Hugoton, Emporia and Montgomery have recently accumulated major manufacturing investments.

The small town of Neodesha offers another example. Nestled near the state’s extreme southeastern corner, Neodesha — population 2,083 — scored a major win in May 2021, when London-based Sicut Enterprises announced plans to establish it as its North American hub for recycling composite plastic railroad ties. The selection process did not lack drama.

“We thought we had reached a point where it wasn’t going to happen,” says Neodesha Community Development Director Jeri Hammerschmidt.

That it did happen is a testament to teamwork and to a measure of foresight on the part of the Kansas State legislature. One of Sicut’s imperatives was a rail spur to connect its site in Neodesha to the existing South Kansas and Oklahoma Railroad line. The city, however, couldn’t afford to build it on its own. The Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT), in Hammerschmidt’s telling, “came to our rescue.”

In collaboration with the Kansas Department of Commerce and the Watco Companies, a railroad enterprise based in nearby Pittsburg, Hammerschmidt turned to KDOT and its Economic Development Program, a component of the Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program, or IKE. 

IKE was approved with strong bipartisan support by the 2020 Kansas Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Laura Kelly. 

“Funding for Economic Development grants through IKE improves critical infrastructure so new and existing Kansas businesses can compete across the world,” says Secretary of Transportation Julie Lorenz. “This project is another example of infrastructure investment growing the Kansas economy.”

The $343,000 in grant funding as provided by KDOT through IKE will be used to build the needed spur, thus allowing raw materials to be shipped into the plant and the finished products sent to customers throughout the United States. The upshot: 135 new jobs for Neodesha. 

“It’s a huge win for Neodesha,” says Hammerschmidt. “It’s putting us on the map.”
Spreading the Wealth

The length and breadth of Kansas is dotted with more than 2,500 manufacturers that employ more than 165,000 workers, about 11% of the Kansas workforce. In addition to aerospace companies, such as the many represented in Wichita, they include producers of foods and beverages, computers, electronics, plastics, paper and other products. 

In August 2021, Kansas City-based Bartlett, announced plans to invest $325 million in a soybean crushing facility in Montgomery County. Refined soybean oil from the plant is to be used in the production of renewable fuels, food products and animal feeds. Bartlett operates more than a half-dozen similar plants in Kansas already. The new one is to create 50 jobs.

“This is an important milestone for our project, enabling infrastructure investment in Kansas that accelerates the nation’s transition to a cleaner, greener and more sustainable transportation system,” said Barlett President Bob Knief.

Kansas Dairy Ingredients (KDI) is in the process of creating 40 new jobs through a $45 million expansion of its cheese and butter making plant in Hugoton. Utilizing locally-sourced milk, the facility is to produce American-style, Italian-style and Hispanic-style cheese and European-style cheese and butter.

Americans who are turning to new ways of vacationing during the COVID-19 pandemic are driving RV sales to new heights, prompting Wichita-based Airxcel to hire 135 people to address increased demand. Airxcel manufactures composite panels for RVs and has developed systems for RV heating, cooling, ventilation and cooking.

“Since the COVID-19 slowdown, our business has experienced a 50% growth rate as people seek a way to safely vacation with their families,” said Sandra Jessop, senior VP of operations and engineering. “We’re adding a large number of positions at our Wichita facility to meet this increased demand and help local families who have experienced job loss during the pandemic.”

Pandemic-inspired attention increasingly being paid to allergens has led EnviroKlenz, owned by Topeka-based Timilon Technology Acquisitions, to open a new air purifier production plant. The facility has created 35 new jobs in the company’s hometown with the prospect of accommodating 30 more. In addition to manufacturing the company’s patented air purifiers, scientists at the plant are to conduct research into new technologies to improve and increase air filtration.

“From using technology developed at Kansas State and investing in the best research equipment,” says Timilon VP of operations George Negron, “we have the brightest minds at work here in Topeka.”  

A national leader in advanced manufacturing, Georgia’s pro-business climate, strong workforce and key logistical advantages have created the ideal atmosphere for growing manufacturers across a wide swath of sectors. 

In FY 2021, manufacturing projects generated the most job creation in the state, accounting for 25% of all jobs created. Across the state, companies announced 167 locations representing $2.24 billion investment and 8,247 new jobs. 

2020 brought several newcomers to the state, including mattress manufacturers Zinus and Purple Mattresses, which chose to locate Henry County manufacturing facilities. These two investments represented over 1,000 new jobs created in the region around McDonough. Other major investments include MasterBrand Cabinets Inc.’s new Southeastern U.S. manufacturing and distribution hub in Butts County, which created nearly 400 jobs. In addition, Spring Mountain Center, which manufactures plumbing fixtures and home furniture products for Home Depot, Wayfair and other major retailers, is also opening a manufacturing and distribution facility in the state with a $45 million investment in Barrow County. 

Georgia’s manufacturing momentum only continues to build into 2021 with several high-tech investments. Significantly, Danimer Scientific, a leading developer of biodegradable materials, recently announced its plans to invest $700 million into expanding its Bainbridge manufacturing facility and nearly quadrupling its workforce in Decatur County. 

Headquartered in Bainbridge for over a decade, Danimer currently employs more than 100 people in southwest Georgia. The company’s renewable and sustainable biopolymers are used in single-use and other plastic products. These materials are biodegradable and compostable and are used by clients in food packaging, bottling, and other traditional packaging sectors. In March, Danimer and Mars-Wrigley announced a partnership to develop an innovative home compostable packaging, with SKITTLES® as the brand’s first product to use the new packaging.

“Georgia has been a welcoming home for Danimer since the company’s inception, and we are grateful for the opportunity to continue growing our roots in the region,” said Stephen Croskrey, CEO of Danimer Scientific. “With access to the state’s robust logistics infrastructure and top-notch talent coming from local universities, we are in a strong position to make our vision of replacing traditional plastic with 100% renewable and biodegradable alternatives a reality. We could not be more pleased with the growing commitments to sustainable solutions by multinational companies, which has allowed us to double the planned size of this new facility.”

Surgical Robots in Peachtree Corners

Intuitive, a pioneer in robotic-assisted surgery and a global leader in minimally invasive care, is investing more than $500 million in its current campus in Gwinnett County, creating approximately 1,200 jobs in Peachtree Corners.

Headquartered in Sunnyvale, California, Intuitive manufactures the da Vinci robotic-assisted surgical systems and Ion bronchoscopy system. Surgeons worldwide have completed more than 8.5 million surgical procedures using Intuitive’s da Vinci systems. Growing demand for robotic-assisted technologies around the world fueled this expansion.

“Intuitive needs a highly educated, committed, and diverse workforce; quality infrastructure; and the right geography to meet the rising demand for minimally invasive surgical technologies,” said Gary Guthart, CEO of Intuitive. “We’ve found that here, and we’re excited to continue to grow in the state. We are committed to hiring a diverse and inclusive workforce as we expand our presence in Georgia.”

The expansion will add to the approximately 180 professionals already based at Intuitive’s offices in Peachtree Corners. With a presence in Georgia for a decade, the company plans to grow its campus to include more than 750,000 square feet of manufacturing and engineering operations, state-of-the-art training facilities for surgeons and hospital care teams, and administrative offices. Intuitive is expected to open its new campus in phases, with completion by 2024. 

Advanced Modular Structures Chooses Atlanta

In August, Advanced Modular Structures LLC., a modular building enterprise affiliated with Atlanta-based real estate developer The Integral Group, LLC., will create 200 jobs and invest more than $14 million in a new manufacturing facility in unincorporated Fulton County.

This unique business is positioned to offer products and services to help solve challenges in providing affordable housing and commercial structures across the U.S. Advanced Modular Structures will operate in a 228,000-square-foot facility where it will repurpose shipping containers into creative trade show displays, retail stores, offices, permanent residences, and more.

“Intuitive needs a highly educated, committed, and diverse workforce; quality infrastructure; and the right geography to meet the rising demand for minimally invasive surgical technologies. We’ve found that here.”
— Gary Guthart, CEO of Intuitive

“We would like to thank Governor Kemp for his visionary leadership in providing Advanced Modular Structures the opportunity to make additional jobs available to Georgians and to build innovative residential and commercial facilities,” said George Hawthorne, Chief Operating Officer of Advanced Modular Structures. “This new venture will help fill the demand for affordable housing and provide economic development growth in Georgia communities by delivering new options for retail and commercial facilities.”

Creating Bioplastics in Savannah

In September, NANTRenewables, a bioplastics company and subsidiary of NantWorks, will invest up to $29 million to build a manufacturing facility at SeaPoint Industrial Terminal Complex in Savannah. The investment will create 134 manufacturing jobs and will be built on an 8.5-acre rail service parcel. This innovative multi-use industrial park is located in a Federal Opportunity Zone and also provides rail and direct deepwater access on the main shipping channel in Savannah.

NANTRenewables will manufacture unique biogenic renewable mineral plastic enhancers designed to improve performance, reduce cost, and minimize the overall carbon footprint of finished products. NANTRenewables uses a renewable and self-generating biogenic mineral to produce biodegradable, daily-use products like plates, straws, cutlery, trays, and cups. Additionally, NANTRenewables provides sustainable, value-added products to several other companies within the food, agriculture, and pharmaceutical industries.

SeaPoint Terminal Industrial Complex recently received authorization from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to construct a new private marine terminal along a one-mile embankment in the Port of Savannah, the fastest-growing container port in the nation. The berth, located on the main shipping channel at 47-foot depth, will support manufacturing operations like NANTRenewables, allowing companies to reduce or eliminate drayage by utilizing all modes of transportation, including vessels.