Simpson County’s industrial mix has an increasingly international flavor, and Franklin-Simpson Industrial Authority Executive Director Dennis Griffin can only see that trend continuing.

South Korea-based Taeyang Metal Industrial Company announced plans last week to locate a 101,000-square-foot plant in Franklin’s Henderson Interstate Industrial Park. It will be the first U.S. presence for Taeyang but only continues a trend of international companies locating in Simpson County.

“Three of the last four companies to locate here have been international companies,” said Griffin. “We’ve had a German company, a Japanese company and now one from Korea.

“The thing that’s helped us is that in the past we’ve had several international companies locate here, especially Japanese companies. Although we’re a mid-sized town, international companies are comfortable coming here because of that international presence.”

According to a Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development news release, Taeyang will make fasteners and cold-rolled steel products for the automotive industry and employ more than 70 workers.

Taeyang, established in 1954, has opened plants in China and India but had not ventured into the U.S. previously. A maker of high-strength bolts, specialty fasteners and screws for such customers as Fiat Chrysler, General Motors and Hyundai, Taeyang is building on a 30-acre site in the Henderson Industrial Park. The plant is expected to start operating in late 2018.

The Economic Development Cabinet news release said Taeyang will invest nearly $15.6 million in the plant. The company is getting $2 million in tax incentives through the Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority.

“I think once companies pin down a region or a couple of locations, incentives do help,” said Griffin. “It lets them know they’re definitely wanted and welcomed.”

Griffin said the 451-acre Henderson Industrial Park is the county’s newest and still has some 300 acres available. He said the county’s Wilkey and Sanders industrial parks are nearly full.

Griffin and Simpson County Judge-Executive Jim Henderson both believe Taeyang’s location bodes well for continued growth in international employers.

“Taeyang Metals marks the first Korean company to locate a manufacturing facility in Franklin,” Henderson said. “Simpson County has numerous corporations from both Asia and Europe that have located in our area, and we believe that more such companies will locate here in the future.”

“There seems to be some more Korean activity in the U.S.,” Griffin said. “I hope that having this first company here will lead to others.”