Industries
Automotive:
“Springfield’s long manufacturing history has produced generations of skilled workers who take pride in what they do,” said Barry Laughlin, director of manufacturing operations, Navistar. “Springfield is currently located in an ideal spot in terms of logistics and our supplier footprint, and that’s an important factor in managing costs and doing business.”
Ohio ranks second in the nation in light vehicle production (1.9 million vehicles annually).
• 80% of the North American light vehicle production takes place in Ohio or within 500 miles of its borders.
• Ohio has tripled its share of the U.S. auto production in the past two decades.
Location advantages:
• Greater Springfield is strategically located within the I-75 corridor, which is the major U.S. location
for existing and new automotive company expansion and growth.
• 108 of Ohio’s 614 automotive related businesses are located in Southwest Ohio.
Regional Expertise:
• Over 75,000 motor-vehicle related workers—one of the nation’s largest concentrated automotive
centers.
You are in Great Company in Greater Springfield
The 397 Tier 1 automotive industry suppliers located in Ohio represent 10% of national companies.
• Honda of America, 14,000
Marysville—East Liberty
• General Motors Corporation, 10,000
Moraine/Other
• Navistar International, 1,300
Springfield
The Columbus-Dayton corridor is one of the state’s highest concentrations of automotive-related industries. Springfield is in the center of this corridor—offering lower costs of living and reasonable wages.
Advanced Manufacturing, Research and Development
Springfield’s DNA is manufacturing. There are over 350 manufacturers in the Greater Springfield area with a large network of manufacturing, knowledgeable and skilled labor. As manufacturing evolves to meet the new economic realities, Springfield understands that the current generation must have a skill set to make them competitive in today’s manufacturing environment.
Project “Lead the Way”
Project Lead The Way addresses the growing need of local businesses and industry for engineers. With Avetec as the local industry sponsor, schools participate in the program that began in the 2007-2008 school year. The program which includes an engineering course each year through high school. There’s
also an eighth-grade component titled “Gateway to Technology.”
Product Development Pilot Program
Provides grants to support delivery of product development
assistance, including design, engineering, financing, marketing
and management, to small and medium sized Ohio manufacturers.
Projects must be led by Ohio higher education institutions or nonprofits but may involve for-profit collaborators, and are to focus on product development in the areas of advanced materials and
instruments, controls and electronics.
Collaborative Research Capabilities
All sectors of Greater Springfield – academic, business, government, military serve together in a wide
variety of capacities from collaborative research centers in aerospace and data management to national
centers of excellence in advanced materials and manufacturing.
Research within 30 miles
• University of Dayton, ranked #2 for total funded materials research and engineering activities
• University of Dayton Research Institute Center for nonmaterials and structural composites
• One of Ohio’s two major federal laboratories
– Wright Patterson Air Force Materials
Laboratory focuses on advanced materials research and emerging applications
• National Composite Center is the national center of excellence for the development and commercialization of cost competitive composite materials and processes
• Edison Materials Technology Center and its network of industrial, academic and government partners combine to “pull” technology into the marketplace
Research Institutes
• Air Force Research Labs (WPAFB)
• Edison Materials Technology Center
• National Air and Space Intelligence Center
• National Center for Manufacturing Education
• National Composite Center
• The Advanced Integrated Manufacturing Center
• University of Dayton Research Institute
• Wright Brothers Institute
• Wright Center of Innovation for Advanced Data Management
Plastics/Composites
Various shipping and inventory factors leads to plastics processors being concentrated in traditional
manufacturing states, especially Ohio. Here are a few examples of where Ohio ranks:
• first in plastic machinery employment
• second in plastics industry employment
• second in plastics mold employment
• third in shipments
You’re in good company
Rhode Island-based TPI Composites began shipping
products out of its AirPark Ohio facility in early 2007. The company initially began producing Gunderson Auto-Max freight car decks for the auto industry, specifically Honda. It soon began making parts for the Army Humvee and has plans to expand its building and workforce.
Also available within 30 to 45 minutes is an extensive
support system for a plastics/composite environment.
Among the resources are:
• The National Composite Center
• The Edison Materials Technology Center
• The Wright-Patterson Air Force Materials Laboratory
• The University of Dayton Research Institute
• Clark State Community College Corporate and Community Services
