Temple’s manufacturing industry has a long history of success that continues today with unprecedented growth.
The city increased manufacturing employment by 28% between 2010 and 2020, 7% more than the national average and overall job growth is expected to increase an average of 12% over the next decade.
The area has seen recent expansions from industry-leading companies like the Ontario-based Niagara Bottling, America’s largest family-owned and operated beverage supplier, which opened a 450,000-square-foot facility in Temple in 2019 and has since grown to nearly 80 employees. This is in addition to existing companies like battery maker East Penn Manufacturing Co., which invested $106 million in an expansion plan for its facility.
“Temple has offered Niagara an ideal, welcoming home in which to grow our eco-friendly operations,” says Brian Hess, Executive Vice President of Niagara Bottling. “After nearly a year of busines in Temple, it is evident that the talented workforce, accessible location, and infrastructure here make it the prime location to expand.”
The manufacturing industry shows no signs of slowing down, either, as the city currently has close to 1,600 acres of available land ready for businesses expansion. With a diverse range of specialties from employers like Acer, Pactiv and Wilsonart International, Temple has demonstrated that it can help companies make and move a variety of products.
An Established Field that Keeps on Growing
Manufacturing is practically synonymous with Central Texas, and the city of Temple has the companies to prove it. Over 130 manufacturing businesses currently reside in Temple, and the city employs more than 6,500 professionals.
Reynolds Consumer Products has been a mainstay since 1970 when Hefty opened their manufacturing facility, and in 2010 the company merged with Reynolds — building on the legacy of both brands. In 2018, Reynolds made a $3.2 million upgrade for its plastic film production line, which increased productivity and added additional employment opportunities.
“Our brand is known for quality and reliability and the people behind it make that possible. We’re pleased to be able to grow right here in Temple,” said Rick Villa, Reynolds manufacturing plant manager.
Leading U.S. pipe manufacturer Lane Enterprises chose to expand into Temple in 2018 because of the city’s infrastructure, which allows them to meet their customers south of the border. Temple is less than a three hour drive to the surrounding major cities, creating a gateway to international airports like Austin-Bergstrom and Dallas/Fort Worth and freight distribution via Union Pacific and BNSF.
The Next Wave of Production and Engineering Talent
Temple is experienced when it comes to pairing private industry leaders with educational institutions. The pipeline is filled with talented individuals supported by local education resources, including Temple High School which offers a technical education program focusing heavily on manufacturing.
The region’s manufacturing cluster is also fueled by eight regional higher education institutions and graduates from STEM-focused training programs. Texas State Technical College graduates earn certificates and associates degrees in areas such as aviation, construction, robotics and engineering.
Temple College’s Business and Continuing Education program provides customized training for adults looking for a new career path in manufacturing. The college also offers consulting at an organizational level to help manufacturing businesses land the talent they need.
Additionally, people choose to stay in Temple. The city saw a 7% population increase between 2014 and 2019, and in 2020, the manufacturing industry supported the third highest number of jobs in Temple. The area offers a low cost of living — about 20% lower than the national average. In addition, over 3,500 retirees from Fort Hood (the largest active-duty post in the U.S.) choose to live and work in Temple annually, providing area businesses with a constant network of dependable talent.
Central Texas has everything businesses need to grow, from talented workers to a low cost of doing business. Interested in learning more about our manufacturing industry? Get in touch or visit our manufacturing in Texas page to get more information.