Global thermal transfer ribbon manufacturer ARMOR-IIMAK announced plans Monday to expand its Boone County facility with a nearly $6 million investment that will create 44 new Kentucky jobs and 65 positions overall. The expansion will increase production capacity and consolidate select production volumes from other facilities within ARMOR-IIMAK's global network, according to the NKY Tribune.

ARMOR-IIMAK operates a facility in Hebron, where it manufactures thermal transfer ribbons and imaging solutions used in barcode printing, packaging and variable information marking. The company has been based in Northern Kentucky since 1999. The new positions will span manufacturing, technical and support functions, bringing the company's total Kentucky workforce to over 100 employees, representing more than a 70 percent increase.

The investment includes facility modifications, new equipment installation and workforce expansion to support additional manufacturing output. The Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority has preliminarily approved a performance-based incentive agreement providing up to $600,000 in tax incentives based on meeting annual targets, including creation of full-time jobs paying an average hourly wage of $37.30 including benefits.

"We are proud to deepen our commitment to Kentucky and the Boone County community through this expansion," said ARMOR-IIMAK Chief Operating Officer Ryan Heitkamp. The investment will strengthen manufacturing capacity to meet growing customer demand while creating high-quality job opportunities for local residents, he said.

Boone County Judge/Executive Gary Moore called the expansion a signal of confidence in the community. "The 65 new full-time roles will create strong career opportunities for local residents both in Kentucky and Ohio, spanning production, warehouse, engineering and administrative work," Moore said.

The expansion aligns with broader economic momentum in Kentucky. Governor Andy Beshear noted that 2026 marked the best first four months for economic investment of any year in Kentucky history, with over $7 billion in announced and approved investment. "One of the key drivers behind our historic economic momentum has been Kentucky-based companies continuing to reinvest in the communities they serve," Beshear said.

Lee Crume, CEO of BE NKY Growth Partnership, praised the expansion as evidence of Northern Kentucky's competitive advantage for global manufacturers. "ARMOR-IIMAK's continued expansion highlights Northern Kentucky's growing partnership with global businesses," Crume said. The organization has supported 799 business projects since its founding in 1987, representing more than 77,036 primary industry jobs with a capital investment of nearly $10.2 billion.