Gov. Bruce Rauner, HARTING, and the City of Elgin announced a $6 million facility expansion at the German company’s world-class North American Headquarters in Elgin. The new investment will include the addition of a lab and showroom to the on-site warehouse and distribution center as well as increasing capabilities for injection molding and die-casting processes. The project is slated to create at least 50 new jobs.
“The state has been working with members of the HARTING team on this project since early this year. I am thrilled the company ultimately decided to expand in the great state of Illinois,” Rauner said. “It is essential that Illinois continues to foster a competitive business environment that not only keeps great companies like HARTING here but attracts new ones from across the globe.”
HARTING is a family-owned company founded in 1945. The company manufactures products for the connector industry for use in mechanical and plant engineering, broadcast and entertainment, factory automation, power generation and distribution as well as industrial electronics and telecommunications. The company already employs 112 Illinoisans.
“Illinois was the right fit for this new expansion due to the unrivaled workforce and strategic location,” said HARTING North America President and CEO Jon DeSouza. “We are proud of our contributions to Illinois’ manufacturing legacy, and this next phase in our journey will only build upon our current successes within the North American market.”
The Governor met with leaders of HARTING at their world headquarters in Espelkamp, Germany during his trade mission to Germany and Poland. Intersect Illinois coordinated the April trade mission to enhance the state’s Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) strategy. Members of the delegation included Intersect Illinois CEO Mark Peterson, former Department of Commerce Director Sean McCarthy, Illinois Manufacturing Association President Greg Baise and Vice President Mark Denzler, Harper College President Kenneth Ender, and President & CEO of the German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest Mark Tomkins.
“The German American Chamber of Commerce of the Midwest appreciates the support and dedication, which the State of Illinois has displayed in working with and for German business. The strong ties between Germany and Illinois were strengthened this year with Governor Rauner’s visit to Germany and investment commitments from several German companies in the state,” said Tomkins. “We look forward to ongoing successful cooperation with our member company HARTING North America and the State of Illinois through our ICATT Apprenticeship Program and other initiatives.”
“The City of Elgin, Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce and Elgin Development Group are so pleased that HARTING has decided to expand in Elgin,” said Elgin Mayor David Kaptain. “Their long-term investment and growth in our community is a result of everyone working together to make Elgin a better place.”
The company is targeting January of 2019 to have the new portion of their manufacturing facility up and running.