Daifuku unveils expanded manufacturing site in Hobart

U.S. Rep. Frank J. Mrvan, D-Highland, called the expansion of Daifuku Intralogistics America Corp. “a proud day” for the area given the work and wealth the business will continue to create.

“If you look at the big picture of what this does for Hobart and Northwest Indiana, it’s a proud day,” Mrvan said.

Mrvan and Hobart Mayor Josh Huddlestun were among the keynote speakers at the grand opening and formal unveiling on Thursday of the expanded manufacturing and office facility located in NorthWind Crossings Business Park in Hobart.

Other speakers included Hiroshi Geshiro, president and CEO of Daifuku Company Ltd., and Christoph Schenk, president of Daifuku Intralogistics America Corp.

The $35 million expansion at the NorthWind Crossings adds 310,000 square feet of new space and is projected to bring an estimated 300 jobs to the community, Schenk said.

The Hobart facility currently employs 440 employees.

The total square footage at the Hobart plant is now 630,000.

“It’s now one of the largest in Northwest Indiana,” Schenk said.

Geshiro, who spoke primarily through an interpreter, said he was in the United States in 2017 searching for locations in Illinois, Illinois and other prospective areas.

“I thought this was the best location and reported back to Japan,” Geshiro said.

The expansion will help make the Hobart plant a hub for the development of technologies that will be used throughout the world, Geshiro said.

The Japan-based company makes industrial equipment for moving and storing goods at its plant at East 61st Avenue and Interstate 65.

“Demand has grown for automation as more customers have looked to artificial intelligence and robotics to become more efficient,” Geshiro said.

Huddlestun said Hobart struck gold when Daifuku came to the community.

“Daifuku has been a great partner to us and delivered on everything they said they would do. They brought good, clean manufacturing to our community. They put us on the map globally,” Huddlestun said.

The company is happy to be here, reinvesting and looking for ways to create the next workforce, he said.

“The theme today is employee, employee, employee. That’s something we in Hobart take to our heart: investing in members of our community,” he said.

Huddlestun said the city of Hobart will continue to support the company.

“We want you to be a global player and continue to expand right here in Hobart, Indiana,” he said.

In addition to the speakers and a ribbon cutting, guided tours and a lunch were provided to guests who attended the event.