The project has already started, officials said.
Trew, which has more than 350 employees, is headquartered at 5855 Union Centre Blvd. in Fairfield. The company also has operations in Wisconsin and Ontario, Canada.
“Consumer preferences, the labor environment, and supply chain pressures continue to drive transformation and growth in the material handling industry,” said Trew President and COO Alfred Rebello. “Our clients need innovations that fit their business and bring together process, technology, software, and people in a way that helps them thrive. The market is evolving quickly, and we are grateful for the state of Ohio’s economic assistance to accelerate our plans.”
Credit: Michael D. Pitman
Credit: Michael D. Pitman
Fairfield Economic Development Manager Nathaniel Kaelin called the project “an exciting, advanced technology investment” for the city.
“We were thrilled when Trew established its headquarters in Fairfield in early 2021 and look forward to what the R&D center will mean for the future growth of the company,” he said. “The Fairfield area has a niche of companies that work in the materially handling/conveyor system space, with companies like Trew, IntelliTrak, and Alba Manufacturing in Fairfield, and Darana Hybrid nearby in Lindenwald, among others.”
The JobsOhio grant will allow Trew to accelerate investments in developing automation technologies, warehouse execution software, and to create a demonstration, testing and training facility. Its automated material handling solutions are used in retail, e-commerce, distribution, and manufacturing, enabling a company’s operations to fulfill orders efficiently and accurately, according to the company.
In addition to JobsOhio, Trew worked with the Ohio Department of Development and REDI Cincinnati to aid in the job-creating project. Trew chose Ohio for its technology center and investments due to the availability of information technology and engineering talent, accessibility to multiple customers who have retail and e-commerce distribution centers, and the willingness of organizations to help businesses access resources to enable growth.
“Innovative companies like Trew are looking to Ohio when developing the latest high-speed solutions as the material handling industry continues to evolve,” said JobsOhio President and CEO J.P. Nauseef. “Southwest Ohio has the engineering talent to grow Trew’s high-speed sortation and supporting software capability as well as easy access to retail and e-commerce distribution centers to meet rising demand.”
REDI Cincinnati is the first point of contact for companies considering locating or growing within the 16-county region in southwest Ohio, Northern Kentucky, and southeast Indiana. REDI Cincinnati President and CEO Kimm Lauterbach said this tri-state region offers the research and development resources to help Trew “deliver smart solutions in the rapidly evolving material handling market.”
“With approximately 7,900 STEM graduates annually, over 5,700 logistics and distribution businesses, an innovation network that includes the Cincinnati Innovation District, and access to customers with the retail and e-commerce distribution centers to help advanced manufacturing businesses unlock new growth,” she said. “We have the talent, L&D ecosystem and innovation in our region to help organizations grow.”
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