A major boost for manufacturing for the area was announced Tuesday.

Wabash Steel, part of Lenex Steel, is investing $2.5 million to upgrade its Knox County facility with cutting-edge technology. Officials report that the investment will enhance productivity and workforce capacity by installing a new high-tech blaster that uses IoT for complex steel cleaning.

In a collaborative effort with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation and Conexus Indiana, Wabash Steel secured a $200,000 Manufacturing Readiness Grant, the first of its kind for Knox County. The new equipment, expected to be operational by 2025, will increase steel processing speed and efficiency, reducing blast time from three hours to just 45 minutes.

Wabash Steel, which fabricates structural steel for bridges, plans to hire additional workers and retrain its current staff to handle the advanced technology.

A news release says the upgrade aligns with Industry 4.0 goals, aiming to modernize the facility and boost the local economy.

Vincennes University will be supporting the transition through its robotics and automation resources.

Knox County Indiana Economic Development CEO Chris Pfaff (faff) says as the region steps into the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Wabash Steel’s investment marks a significant stride toward a more competitive future for Indiana’s manufacturing sector.