The New Albany city council recently granted tax abatements to three locally based companies after they presented plans to expand their manufacturing facilities, further boosting Southern Indiana's already thriving manufacturing sector. The three businesses are Advance Fabricators, Bruce Fox and L&D Mail Masters, who will be adding approximately 55 new jobs in total over the next few years.

Advance Fabricators, founded in 1975, is a full service engineering and machining company whose business, including a large distribution network of screw conveyor parts for harvesters and other field equipment, expands into northern Kentucky. Per their expansion plan, they will be employing a $2.1 million investment capital to build a new 6,000-square foot annex with eight new fabrication stations, adding about 20 new full-time jobs to their current workforce of 25.

Bruce Fox, Inc. has been based in New Albany since its founding in 1938. The company designs and manufactures trophies for major racing series including IndyCar and NASCAR and awards for BET and the World Car of the Year. They also produce seals for public offices and other high-profile organizations. Bruce Fox will be investing $1.2 million to renovate its facility, allowing for product expansion and the addition of 27 new jobs by 2018.

Finally, direct marketing firm L&D Mail Masters will be investing $2.1 million in eight new positions and a significant expansion of operations through the acquisition of a cutting-edge mail processing system. Mayor Jeff Gahan was pleased with the expansion plans: "We believe these projects and other recent expansion efforts are evidence of the growing business sector and improved economy in New Albany and herald more success to come."

Manufacturing business software can help other companies in the booming manufacturing sector find success and grow through the use of technology that will improve their operations.