Advanced Manufacturing in East Central Indiana
“Market Central” for North America*
The region’s legacy of “making things” has produced a base of talent and companies who can build things and solve mechanical, operation, and process challenges. This legacy of manufacturing innovation and skilled workforce provides the foundation for advanced manufacturing in target industries where the region is most able to innovate in the new economy.
Several long-standing manufacturers continue to exist within the region while new and expanding operations have sought the available space and logistical ease of interstate-accessible industrial parks and buildings.
Auto Suppliers – Region is Central to Customers
East Central Indiana’s concentration of small and mid-sized Tier 1 and 2 auto suppliers, small tool and die shops, metal benders and auto part manufacturers supply over thirty auto assembly plants within 400 miles of the region. This foundation of the regional economy contributes to the region’s expertise and advanced manufacturing capabilities serving the auto industry, especially in powertrain and related technologies.
Infrastructure
Traversed by Interstate 69 (a planned NAFTA trade route) and Interstate 70, the region lays within a well-connected triangle of connectivity affording easy access to Indianapolis and nearby metro areas including Chicago, Detroit, Cincinnati, Columbus, Louisville and St. Louis. The region is well served by dedicated north-south and east-west rail lines as well as several airports. The region is also located along the I-Light Fiber Optic Network, providing access to the country’s fiber backbone.
Innovation and Higher Education Capacity
The region includes Ball State University, Anderson University, Indiana Wesleyan University, Taylor University, Indiana University East and two Purdue College of Technology campuses along with six Ivy Tech Community College locations – all serving the workforce needs of the region. Combined, these institutions have a student population of more than 46,000. These colleges offer a continual source of young innovators and entrepreneurs, faculty and students that come from across the globe, and a rich array of programs and research that support innovation.
In addition to these campuses, the region offers business incubators and collaborative workspace like the Flagship Enterprise Center in Anderson, the Innovation Connector in Muncie and the Center City Development Corporation and The Innovation Center in Richmond providing the offices, equipment, training and access to capital needed in order to get start-ups off the ground.
Mid-West Corporate Drivers
In addition to major research institutions, the larger Mid-west region is home to a number of corporations and organizations that drive the economy. These companies represent a diverse spread of industries from health care (Lilly, WellPoint) to manufacturing (Cummins, Steel Dynamics) to defense (Boeing, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, GE Aviation) to agriculture (ADM). These drivers support a robust supply chain upon which many existing small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in the region depend with opportunities for new investment.
*Source: East Central Indiana Regional Planning District, Vandewalle & Associates
| Major Employers | |
| 3M | Specialty Tapes |
|
Emhart Gripco
|
Threaded Fasteners |
| Petoskey Plastics | Plastic Recycling |
| Progress Rail | Rail and Transit Products |
|
MPT Muncie/Magna Powertrain
|
Manufacturing |
|
Keihin Aircon North America
|
Auto components |
| Ardagh Group | Glass manufacturing |
| Stant USA | Automotive components |
| Howden Roots | Industrial pumps |
| General Motors | Automotive stamping |
| General Cable | Wire and cable |
| FCC (Indiana) | Auto components |
| Primex Plastics Corp | Plastics extruders |
| Motherson Sumi Systems, Ltd. | Automotive parts |
|
Berry Plastics
|
Plastics mold
|
|
Belden Americas Div
|
Wire and cable
|
|
Osborn International
|
Industrial wire brushes
|
|
ELSA LLC
|
Auto components |
|
Remy International
|
Auto components |
|
Owens Illinois (Brockway Glass)
|
Glass manufacturing |
| TOA | Auto components |
|
INTAT Precision, Inc.
|
Foundry-auto parts |
| Emerson Copeland |
OEM & re-conditioned compressors
|
| Trane Commercial Systems | Air handling systems |
| Draper, Inc. |
Window shades, athletic equipment
|
| TS Tech | Auto components |
| New Castle Stainless Plate, LLC | Stainless steel plates |
Occupation Wages
| SOC | Description | Avg Hourly Wage | Median Hourly Wage |
| 51-1011 | First-Line Supervisors of Production Workers | $28.83 | $27.34 |
| 51-2092 | Team Assemblers | $16.83 | $16.98 |
| 51-2099 | Assemblers and Fabricators | $16.84 | $16.99 |
| 51-4011 | Computer Controlled Machine Tool Operators | $18.54 | $18.07 |
| 51-4021 | Extruding & Drawing Machine Setters, Operators | $16.40 | $15.99 |
| 51-4041 | Machinists | $20.26 | $19.67 |
| 51-4072 | Molding, Casting Machine Setters, Operators | $16.89 | $16.48 |
| 51-4111 | Tool & Die Makers | $26.02 | $26.51 |
| 51-4121 | Welders, Cutters, Solderers | $18.75 | $18.41 |
| 51-9198 | Helpers – Production Workers | $14.56 | $14.35 |
| 51-9199 | Production Workers | $18.64 | $18.02 |
Source: JobsEQ® Data as of 2018