Boone County Sheet Metal Fabricator Skilcraft LLC Announces $8.4 Million Expansion
Skilcraft LLC, a Boone County-based sheet metal fabrication company, announced plans Wednesday for an $8.4 million expansion of its Hebron plant that will create 14 new jobs for local residents.
The $8.4 million project will see Skilcraft’s current operation in Hebron expand by more than 22,000 square feet, bringing the total facility to more than 54,000 square feet. The additional space will allow for increased production capacity and new equipment that will support the production of fabricated parts and metal components for the aerospace industry. The company will also add 14 manufacturing jobs through the expansion, bringing the total number of statewide employees to 126, including an additional facility in Burlington.
(Photo by Skilcraft LLC)
“Skilcraft employees have earned a reputation for 57 years creating innovative solutions for our customers,” said Skilcraft President John Zurborg. “Today, we are proud to work with world-changing innovators in the space, aviation and green energy sectors. We are excited about our growth and the careers that will be created for our friends and neighbors in Northern Kentucky.
Skilcraft was founded in Burlington in 1965 and has been a producer of high quality precision sheet metal components for over 57 years. In 2016, the company’s services expanded to include the manufacture of components used in the aviation industry, primarily parts used in jet engines.
Boone County Judge/Executive Gary Moore thanked Skilcraft for his continued investment in Northern Kentucky.
“For many years Skilcraft has been creating quality quarries here in Boone County,” Judge Moore said. “I am delighted to hear that they are expanding again with 14 new highly skilled advanced manufacturing positions.”
Skilcraft is one of the region’s leading sheet metal fabrication companies, serving a wide range of industries including medical products, security and banking equipment, telecommunications and electronics, government and defense, original equipment manufacturer (OEM) and aerospace manufacturing markets. The company was acquired by O’Neal Industries (ONI) in 2021, the nation’s largest family-owned network of metal service centers and component and tube manufacturing companies. Comprised of nine leading brands and generating sales of $2.8 billion in 2021, ONI is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, and has more than 70 specialty facilities across North America, Europe and Asia.
Northern Kentucky Tri-ED CEO Lee Crume noted that Skilcraft serves advanced manufacturing OEMs in a number of industries ranging from medical products to aerospace, banking and telecommunications.
“Skilcraft is part of a thriving advanced manufacturing community in Northern Kentucky,” Crume said. “We are pleased that they are expanding capacity at their Hebron operation to increase production and service for the many industrial markets they serve.”
Skilcraft’s investment builds on Kentucky’s manufacturing prowess, which in 2021 saw companies announce 13,900 new jobs in the Commonwealth, behind $10.5 billion in new investment. Statewide, manufacturers operate nearly 5,000 facilities employing approximately 250,000 residents. Additionally, the expansion adds to the state’s more than 230 metal-related facilities that employ approximately 25,000 Kentuckians. Last year, Kentucky’s metals industry generated approximately $975 million in planned investment and more than 1,700 new jobs expected for Kentucky residents.
For more information about Skilcraft LLC, visit Skilcraft.com.
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