Smiley Monroe, a leading global market manufacturer of conveyor belts for the materials processing industry, is significantly expanding its North American business by opening a manufacturing facility in Franklin, Kentucky, USA. In a move driven by customer demand and strong industry forecasts, the US$2mn investment, assisted by Danske Bank and the Commonwealth of Kentucky, will create 30 new full-time jobs in the local area, as well as safeguarding jobs at the company’s headquarters in Lisburn, Norther
Smiley Monroe, a leading global market manufacturer of conveyor belts for the materials processing industry, is significantly expanding its North American business by opening a manufacturing facility in Franklin, Kentucky, USA.
In a move driven by customer demand and strong industry forecasts, the US$2mn investment, assisted by Danske Bank and the Commonwealth of Kentucky, will create 30 new full-time jobs in the local area, as well as safeguarding jobs at the company’s headquarters in Lisburn, Northern Ireland.
Over the past 40 years, the company has grown to become the leading producer of highly customised endless conveyor belts and customised rubber and plastic parts for the mobile equipment sector, exporting to over 60 countries and supporting leading customers such as Powerscreen, Terex, Wirtgen, McCloskey, Astec Industries, Sandvik and CDE.
Smiley Monroe’s success to date has been born out of a philosophy of staying close to its customers. With a growing client base in the region and increasing political uncertainty / export restrictions, manufacturing ‘in America for America’ was a natural strategic move. Smiley Monroe has all the pieces in place to be producing in the U.S. by January 2020.
“With the political uncertainty both in the UK and beyond, protecting our export sales is paramount to growing the business and safeguarding jobs in Northern Ireland,” says Chris Monroe, Smiley Monroe’s global sales director. “Having a base in the US will shorten lead times for customers and help us be more competitive in the tough US market. Removing barriers to trade will fast-track our ambitious growth plans to increase turnover by 50% over the next three years.”
Proximity to major customers, an available workforce combined with the financial and logistical assistance offered by the Commonwealth of Kentucky were the deciding factors in the choice of Smiley Monroe’s new U.S. manufacturing facility. The company will be working closely with Simpson County in the coming months to recruit a core team of production operatives and support staff, with employee numbers set to expand to 30 over the next five years, in line with expanding manufacturing output.
Smiley Monroe is no stranger to global expansion, with the new American facility mimicking the company’s successful India-based factory. Initially, this plant will produce the company’s core product – Endless conveyor belts – as well as ‘Zip Clip’, the mechanically fastened replacement belt which is taking the industry by storm. Many support services and non-core products will still be provided from Smiley Monroe’s Northern Ireland headquarters, which will continue to service local, European and wider-world customers.
