Franke Plating Works Set to Expand Indiana Facilities

Franke Plating Works, a family-owned plating company in northeast Indiana, has announced plans to invest $1.1 million to upgrade and expand its production facility. Indiana Economic Development Corp. (IEDC) has hailed the move and offered the company tax incentives to support it. 

“Indiana’s small business owners are a crucial part of our economy, supporting more than 1.2 million quality jobs across the state,” says Elaine Bedel, president of IEDC. “Franke Plating Works is one of these success stories, having had a strong presence in the northeast Indiana region for nearly 90 years.”

Established in 1930, Franke Plating Works is a third-generation-owned company. It will soon transition to the family’s fourth generation of ownership. The company serves a global client base in a variety of industries, including automotive, aerospace, agriculture, military and medical. Franke Plating Works has even plated parts for the rigors of flight aboard NASA spacecraft.

As its client base continues to expand, the company will add new equipment and make improvements to its production facility. The improvements will allow for more flexibility and the ability to plate a more diverse set of parts. This expansion will also more than double the company’s current production capacity. Currently employing about 50 employees in Indiana, Franke Plating Works expects to add as many as 17 new jobs by 2023. 

“We’re proud of the company we’ve built here in Fort Wayne,” says owner Warren Franke. “As we grow, we remain committed to our longstanding principles: competitive pricing, quick turnaround time and consistent client communication from our dependable staff.”