Area Development
Daiei Inc., a Japan-based specialty manufacturer of industrial machinery components, plans to locate its first North American operation in Columbus, Indiana.

The company, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Handa City, Japan-based Daiei Giken Kogyo Co., Ltd., will invest $3.35 million to lease, renovate and equip a 7,200-square-foot production facility at 810 Depot St. and a nearby 7,800-square-foot office building at 3620 Commerce Drive in Columbus.

Daiei will produce forklift pillars and other related components for Toyota Industrial Equipment Manufacturing , which is also based in Columbus. With equipment installation slated to begin this month, Daiei plans to create up to 10 new jobs by 2017.

“Our new operations will allow us to meet the needs of important customers while benefiting from the business advantages found in Columbus, Indiana,” said James Anderson Kaparakis, Production Department Director of Daiei. “Our location will offer us convenient access to customers and a workforce that understands our manufacturing needs.”

Daiei, which currently employs more than 400 associates at its facilities in Japan and China, plans to begin hiring for production and leadership roles in December.

The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Daiei Inc. up to $50,000 in conditional tax credits based on the company's job creation plans. These tax credits are performance-based, meaning until Hoosiers are hired, the company is not eligible to claim incentives. In addition, the city of Columbus will consider additional incentives at the request of the Columbus Economic Development Board.

“Indiana boasts the largest amount of Japanese investment per capita in the country, and today Daiei joins the long list of Japan-owned companies creating new jobs here in the Hoosier State,” said Governor Mike Pence.

International companies have a world of choices for new and expanded operations, and the fact that they continue to select Indiana speaks to our state’s strong and predictable business climate, the Indiana-Japan relationship we continue to foster and the warm welcome they receive from Hoosiers across the state.”

“We in Columbus are pleased to be home to the highest concentration of Japanese investment in the state of Indiana,” said Jim Lienhoop, Columbus City Councilor. “City and local economic development officials have traveled to Japan annually for more than thirty years in support of Japanese investment, and I was honored to have the opportunity to help tell the Columbus story to Daiei officials during our recent trip.”