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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Tru-Tone Finishing Expands to Lexington, Kentucky

02/02/2018
Tru-Tone Finishing Inc., a family-owned provider of industrial e-coating, will expand its operations to Lexington, Kentucky. The company plans to create 120 jobs.

This summer the company will utilize an existing 70,000-square foot facility to initially offer an e-coat metal finishing process, with powder coating capabilities added in 2019. Ultimately the Lexington plant will operate three 35-employee shifts.

“We have been targeting locations that will allow us to serve our existing customers, as well as expand our business in the Southeast, and Kentucky lets us to do that,” said Tru-Tone President Greg Klemenswicz, the second generation of family ownership.

“The Lexington facility also made it possible to reach parts of the Midwest and East. We are very excited to be growing and building on our relationships with companies in the region and to become a part of the city and state business communities,” he added.

According to company officials, E-coating, or electrophoretic painting, covers metal items with a paint emulsion by submerging the item and applying an electrical current. Electricity causes paint to adhere to any part of the item the liquid contacts. The wet emersion process makes it ideal for coating products with hard to reach surfaces. Powder coating also uses an electrical charge, but involves dry paint applied with a spray gun. As with e-coating, a final curing process produces the desired finish.

E-coating is widely used in the auto industry for corrosion resistance, but also gained popularity in construction, telecom and agricultural equipment, officials explained.

Klemenswicz said a large part of Tru-Tone’s business will initially come from automotive suppliers, but will eventually include a mix of general industrial clients. The facility will also offer some limited support activities, including part washing and finishing.

Governor Matt Bevin said. “Our logistical advantages, strong workforce and increasingly business-friendly climate, have made the commonwealth a popular destination. Tru-Tone’s story of sound family stewardship and intelligent, steady growth is an example worth honoring and emulating. We are grateful for their decision to invest their human and financial capital in Kentucky.”

To encourage the investment and job growth in the community, the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority (KEDFA) in December preliminarily approved the company for tax incentives up to $500,000 through the Kentucky Business Investment program. The performance-based incentive allows a company to keep a portion of its investment over the agreement term through corporate income tax credits and wage assessments by meeting job and investment targets. In addition, Tru-Tone can receive resources from the Kentucky Skills Network.

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