Vector Corrosion Technologies Inc., provider of corrosion mitigation products and services, cut the ribbon on a new operation in Lexington, creating 20 full-time jobs with a more than $1 million investment.
Gov. Beshear’s Senior Advisor Rocky Adkins was present for Tuesday’s grand opening of the Canada-based company’s first U.S. manufacturing facility.
“Congratulations to Vector Corrosion Technologies Inc. and to the Lexington area for adding another quality employer for the talented workforce in the region,” Gov. Beshear said. “We continue to attract new companies to the state that are creating great jobs for our residents, as more decision makers recognize the many benefits of doing business in Kentucky.”
“It’s a great day to be a Kentuckian as we open the doors to Vector Corrosion Technologies Inc., which is creating good-paying jobs for our people and further cementing our commonwealth as a leader in manufacturing,” Adkins added. “On behalf of Team Kentucky, I want to thank the leaders of Vector for choosing Lexington. There is no stronger workforce than Kentucky’s, and I know together we will see a lot of success for years to come.”
Vector located its first Kentucky operation in an existing 15,200-square-foot building at 800 Winchester Road in Lexington. In addition to acquiring the facility, the new-location project includes purchasing manufacturing equipment and other startup-related costs. Jobs created at the facility include supervisory, quality control, shipping and receiving and production line roles.
“The ceremonial ribbon cutting is an exciting event for Vector as we continue to gear up quickly to bring Kentucky-made corrosion solutions to extend the life of critical infrastructure throughout the country,” said Bob Spriggs, Vector CEO.
“The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and its engineering consultants have expressed their support for the expanded use of cathodic protection technologies in the commonwealth and we are anxious to move forward quickly to support local jobs,” added Chris Ball, senior vice president at Vector. “In addition to supplying domestic projects, we have also manufactured some cathodic protection systems for export to Brazil.”
Headquartered in Winnipeg, Canada, Vector has provided concrete repair and corrosion solutions to extend the life of infrastructure for the past 50 years. In the late 1990s, Vector introduced the original Galvashield XP embedded galvanic anode for concrete repair in North America. Vector has become a global leader in corrosion mitigation products and services for reinforced concrete and masonry structures, such as bridges, parking garages, buildings, marine structures and industrial facilities. Vector maintains offices in Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom and partners with over 20 distributors globally to service key markets in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America.
Vector adds to Kentucky’s thriving manufacturing sector, which employs 250,000 people across approximately 5,000 facilities. Since the start of the Beshear administration, manufacturers have announced 475 private sector new-location and expansion projects creating more than 25,300 full-time jobs with over $18 billion in new investment.
Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton welcomed the company to Fayette County.
“Welcome to Lexington! Your company goal of environmental sustainability will be right at home here in our city,” Mayor Gorton said. “Lexington values its healthy, growing manufacturing sector.”
Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government Councilwoman Liz Sheehan highlighted the creation of quality jobs.
“I am so pleased to welcome Vector Corrosion Technologies to Lexington’s 5th District, which helps to expand the business footprint along the Winchester Road corridor,” Sheehan said. “This industry leader will provide good-paying jobs while producing more sustainable products for construction and masonry projects.”
Commerce Lexington Inc. President and CEO Bob Quick welcomed the opening of the new facility.
“We are very pleased that Vector Corrosion Technologies calls Lexington home, and we appreciate their continued investment and confidence in Central Kentucky,” Quick said. “We are honored that this innovative company has opened its very first U.S. manufacturing facility right here in Central Kentucky. We look forward to many great things from Vector Corrosion Technologies in the future.”
For more information on Vector Corrosion Technologies, visit Vector-Corrosion.com.
A detailed community profile for Fayette County can be viewed here.
Information on Kentucky’s economic development efforts and programs is available at CED.ky.gov. Fans of the Cabinet for Economic Development can also join the discussion at facebook.com/CEDkygov, on Twitter @CEDkygov, Instagram @CEDkygov and LinkedIn.
Read about other key updates, actions and information from Gov. Beshear and his administration at governor.ky.gov, kycovid19.ky.gov and the Governor’s official social media accounts Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.