Dr. Schneider to Create 155 Jobs

 

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Commonwealth of Kentucky

Office of the Governor

Gov. Beshear Announces Dr. Schneider to Create 155 Jobs at New Manufacturing Operation in Russell Springs

Germany-based automotive supplier to invest more than $29 million in Kentucky;

Russell Springs beat 69 potential locations to win new plant


FRANKFORT, Ky. (Aug. 9, 2013) – Governor Steve Beshear today announced Dr. Schneider Automotive Systems Inc., a Germany-based automotive supplier, plans to establish a manufacturing operation in Russell Springs. The new plant will create 155 full-time jobs and entail a more than $29 million investment in Kentucky.

The announcement marks the third German-owned company to locate a new operation in Kentucky this year, all three of which serve the auto industry.

“Dr. Schneider Automotive Systems will only add to Kentucky’s thriving automotive industry and foreign direct investment, which are both vital components of our growing economy,” said Gov. Beshear. “We welcome Dr. Schneider to Russell Springs, and are excited to see 155 new jobs and an investment of more than $29 million in the Commonwealth.”

The 85-year-old family enterprise is a pioneer in the processing of plastics and produces high-end vent and trim systems for top automotive original equipment manufacturers around the world. To meet increasing customer demand, the company is looking to establish its wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary in Russell Springs, where the plant will manufacture parts for companies such as Ford, GM, BMW, Mercedes, Volkswagen and more.

“At the end of an intensive selection process where we checked 69 locations, we decided to choose Russell Springs,” said Wilhelm Wirth, member of the Dr. Schneider board of directors. “The decisive factors included the quality and expandability of the facility and the competitive location costs. The professional cooperation with the local and state business development departments confirmed our decision as well. We are convinced that at this location we will be able to work more efficiently for our current customers, including Mercedes, BMW and Ford, and that we can win new partners.”

Kentucky has experienced tremendous success in foreign direct investment growth, adding nearly 100 new facilities over the past decade. In 2012, nearly 35 percent of all capital investment and almost 20 percent of new jobs announced in the manufacturing, service and technology sector were a result of foreign-owned companies. Kentucky maintains economic development offices in Hamburg, Germany and Tokyo, Japan, which work to cultivate new and existing relationships abroad for the Commonwealth.

The location of Dr. Schneider also further strengthens Kentucky’s auto industry, which today boasts over 450 motor vehicle-related facilities across the state. Just last year, Kentucky’s auto production numbers topped one million vehicles, the highest in five years. Year-to-date 2013, Kentucky ranks third in light vehicle production in the United States and first on a per capita basis.

“I am thrilled that Dr. Schneider Automotive has chosen our people and our area,” said Sen. Chris Girdler, of Somerset. “Russell County and the Lake Cumberland region have proven to be fully capable as manufacturing hosts, and we look forward to showing our newest community partner all we have to offer.”

“I’m pleased that Dr. Schneider Automotive Systems picked Russell County and Kentucky for their wholly-owned manufacturing plant in the United States, and I congratulate Sec. Larry Hayes and the Russell County Industrial Authority for their hard work in getting Schneider Automotive Systems to locate in Russell County,” said Rep. Jeff Hoover, of Jamestown. “Not only is their decision a reflection of Kentucky’s stature as an automotive manufacturing hub, but also speaks to the available qualified workforce that Russell and surrounding counties offer to companies looking to locate in our region.”

“The city of Russell Springs is fortunate that a company such as Dr. Schneider Automotive Systems has chosen to locate in our city,” said Russell Springs Mayor Eric Selby. “We look forward to another global manufacturing company in Russell Springs.”

“On behalf of the Russell County Fiscal Court, I am pleased to welcome Dr. Schneider Automotive Systems to Russell County,” said Russell County Judge-Executive Gary Robertson. “We look forward to the contribution this international company will make to our local economy in job creation and capital investment.”

“Our community is pleased to welcome Dr. Schneider Automotive Systems as they join our other outstanding industry partners that we have in Russell County,” said Jamestown Mayor Terry Lawless. “I am sure they will create more high-paying jobs for our citizens. We work hard as a community to ensure we can meet the needs of new and expanding industry, and this announcement validates those efforts.”

To encourage the investment and job creation in Russell Springs, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority preliminarily approved the company for tax incentives up to $4 million through the Kentucky Business Investment program. The performance-based incentive allows a company to keep a portion of its investment over the term of the agreement through corporate income tax credits and wage assessments by meeting job and investment targets. 

For more information on Dr. Schneider, visit www.dr-schneider.com/en/. To apply for jobs call or visit your local Kentucky Career Center, or for inquiries and requests for applications send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Russell County has also been certified by the Kentucky Workforce Investment Board as a Work Ready in Progress Community. The certification is an assurance to business and industry that the community is committed to providing the highly skilled workforce required in today's competitive global economy.

Information on Kentucky’s economic development efforts and programs is available at www.ThinkKentucky.com. Fans of the Cabinet for Economic Development can also join the discussion on Facebook or follow on Twitter. Watch the Cabinet’s “This is My Kentucky” video on YouTube.

A detailed community profile for Russell Springs (Russell County) can be viewed here.