South-central Indiana update: the region's top business stories.

AuthorMayer, Kathy
PositionREGIONAL REPORT: SOUTH CENTRAL

EXPANSIONS DOMINATE the news in south-central Indiana, where the five-county area--Bartholomew, Brown, Jackson, Lawrence and Monroe--are seeing steady reinvestments.

Industries expand. The biggest news comes from Mitchell, where Pennsylvania-based Lehigh Cement Co., owned by Germany's HeidelbergCement, is planning to spend $400 million to expand and upgrade its cement manufacturing facility, which has operated since 1902. "It's fabulous news, absolutely fabulous news for the county and city of Mitchell," says Gene McCracken, executive director of the Lawrence County Economic Growth Council. "They'll have 2,000 workers on-site during the two-year construction period."

The company has already completed a study to assure there's at least a 50-year limestone supply for the plant. Next comes permitting, which make take a few years, then construction. Plans are to start up the new plant in 2012. The project will allow the company to double capacity, but because of new technology and equipment, it will maintain current employment at 132 and reduce its fuel use, power consumption and emissions per ton of cement produced. The new construction will include a single short kiln with a multi-stage pre-heater, vertical roller mills, bins, conveyors and an advanced monitoring system.

Also in Lawrence County, Bedford Machine and Tool, which does large machining work and employs 70 in Bedford, has added new equipment to accommodate two wind energy clients. Work is already under way for one; the other one begins soon.

Three Bartholomew County industries, all in Columbus, are expanding: NTN Driveshaft Inc., PMG Indiana Corp. and Sunright America Inc., reports Courtney Carr, executive director of the Columbus Economic Development Board, on leave since October while he serves with the National Guard in Iraq.

NTN Driveshaft spent $70 million on new construction and boosted employment by 270 to 1,600. The company makes continuous-velocity joints for the automotive industry.

PMG Indiana is investing $11.4 million as it consolidates its Midwest operations, moving its Ohio production and research and development next door to its Columbus powdered metal parts plant. PMG produces parts for the automotive industry, such as turbine hubs and clutch hubs used in transmissions and engines, directly supplying Ford and General Motors and, indirectly, Honda and Toyota. Today's employment of 250 is expected to increase by about 75.

Sunright America, which came to Columbus in...

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