Kimber finalized plans to expand manufacturing operations in early 2019 with a new design engineering and manufacturing facility in Troy, AL. “Due to unprecedented year-over-year growth in demand, every time the company has embarked upon a planned expansion, the newly created capacity is exhausted before the expansion is complete,” said James Cox, Kimber chief financial officer. “As we continue to move into uncharted waters in regards to Kimber product demand, it was important to us to build a facility that will allow us to secure a significant new plateau of capacity.” Once completed, the factory will double the company’s manufacturing potential.
Troy, AL, is roughly 60 miles southeast of Montgomery and has a population of less than 20,000. “This is a dream come true for the City of Troy and for me personally; a firearms manufacturing company with such a stellar brand as Kimber, creating jobs and capital investment for the community,” said Jason Reeves, Mayor of the City of Troy. “Troy has a strong manufacturing base and Kimber will certainly, positively add to that.”
The facility will bring 366 jobs to the area and Made in Alabama is reporting the plant should be operational sometime in next year. “Kimber’s investment in Troy will create a significant number of high-paying design engineering and manufacturing jobs, and we are committed to helping the company find long-lasting success in Alabama,” Kay Ivey, governor of Alabama, told reporters.
“We are pleased with the impressive track record that Alabama has with attracting and retaining world-class manufacturing companies,” said Leslie Edelman, Kimber president and chief operating officer. “Growing our company intelligently depends significantly on being in the right manufacturing environment, and in Troy, we have a community dedicated to our long-term success. Working with the Alabama Department of Commerce as well as Mayor Jason Reeves and his team has been a pleasurable and rewarding experience.”
Remington also moved some of its manufacturing to Alabama several years ago. Its Huntsville plant—roughly four hours north near the border with Tennessee—produced its first guns in early 2015.
