Midstate Manufacturing is growing their company and plans to add 77 new full-time jobs by the end of 2020.
The homegrown business has operated in Galesburg since 1977, but their shift towards more modern forms of manufacturing seems to be paying off.
Knox County Area Partnership for Economic Development President Ken Springer tells WGIL the expansion revolves around the assembly of autonomous vehicle kits which will be used to retrofit off-highway trucks.
These kits contain hundreds of individual parts, as well as hardware to mount the technology onto trucks, with parts made elsewhere and other parts fabricated in Galesburg.
Springer says autonomous vehicle technology is “cutting-edge” and it’s exciting that a Galesburg company is moving in this direction.
Midstate is also growing their painting facility.
They’ve purchased two properties in the last year, the Olson Packaging building on McClure Street and the former Midwest Plastics building on Monmouth Boulevard.
Springer says the 77 jobs will consist of several types of positions although he couldn’t say for sure what they would be.
Midstate’s website has current postings for positions for manual machinists, laser operators and welders and other postings that are continually open.
Springer says KCAP continues to highlight career opportunities in manufacturing, particularly to local students.
They believe over time they will convince more people that these are “strong middle-class careers”.
Springer says that Midstate is an integral part of the regional economy and they especially celebrate a company that is manufacturing goods in this area that are shipped to around the country and world.
