German-owned Fritz Winter North America LP has opened its plant in Franklin’s Wilkey North Industrial Park, a development expected to bring 200 jobs to Simpson County.

Fritz Winter executives announced the project in December 2015 and construction of the plant began in late 2016. Employees at the 240,000-square-foot plant began casting and machining disc brake rotors for the automotive industry in June.

The German company invested $110 million in the initial phase of the development. A planned expansion could bring the total investment to $194 million and employment to as much as 300.

Franklin Mayor Ronnie Clark, quoted in a Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development news release, said Fritz Winter will have a huge impact on the community.

“We appreciate the partnership we had with the Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development in landing the Fritz Winter project,” Clark said. “Our local high school students, along with many residents of Franklin, now have a great opportunity for high-paying, skilled jobs with this excellent company.”

The Cabinet for Economic Development played a big role in landing the German company through state tax incentives.

The Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority in December 2015 preliminarily approved the company for tax incentives up to $5 million through the Kentucky Business Investment program. The performance-based incentive allows a company to keep a portion of its investment over the agreement term through corporate income tax credits and wage assessments by meeting job and investment targets.

Additionally, KEDFA approved Fritz Winter for up to $690,000 in tax incentives through the Kentucky Enterprise Initiative Act. KEIA allows approved companies to recoup Kentucky sales and use tax on construction costs, building fixtures, equipment used in research and development and electronic processing.

Founded in Stadtallendorf, Germany, in 1951, Fritz Winter is a world market leader in the production of cast iron engine blocks and heads, brake rotors and drums, flywheels and hydraulic housings. It serves the international car and truck industry and specializes in lightweight and material-specific design. The family-owned company began exporting to the U.S. in 1966 and currently employs 3,700 people worldwide.