# Lt. Gov. Coleman Joins Zotefoams for Ribbon Cutting on Walton Expansion **Published:** 2026-07-08T18:13:55.000Z **Source:** [Office of the Governor](https://kentucky.gov/Pages/Activity-stream.aspx?n=GovernorBeshear&prId=2790) **AI-generated:** yes (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) **Canonical:** https://feeds.lexingtonky.news/article/lt-gov-coleman-joins-zotefoams-for-ribbon-cutting-on-walton-expansion Lieutenant Governor Bessie Coleman joined Zotefoams Inc. officials to celebrate the completion of a major expansion at the company's North American headquarters in Walton, marking a milestone in the British-owned advanced materials manufacturer's growth in Northern Kentucky, according to [the Governor's Office](https://kentucky.gov/Pages/Activity-stream.aspx?n=GovernorBeshear&prId=2790). The 2026 ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrates the company's 25th anniversary of operations in the Walton facility, which opened in the late 1990s as a finishing operation after [Zotefoams plc imported partially processed raw materials from the United Kingdom and performed final manufacturing in Northern Kentucky](https://newkentuckyhome.ky.gov/Newsroom/NewsPage/04082015_Zotefoams). Recent expansions have transformed the Walton site into a full end-to-end manufacturing facility. [The latest expansion increased output capacity by more than 20 percent and added approximately 53,000 square feet to the existing facility](https://www.plasticstoday.com/automotive-mobility/zotefoams-expands-us-manufacturing-appoints-four-north-american-partners), enabling the company to serve high-performance markets including aerospace, automotive, healthcare, packaging and sports applications. [The investment transforms the Kentucky site from a finishing operation into a full end-to-end manufacturing facility, giving North American customers shorter lead times and greater supply chain independence](https://www.plasticstoday.com/automotive-mobility/zotefoams-expands-us-manufacturing-appoints-four-north-american-partners). Zotefoams plc is [the world leader in cellular material technology](https://manufacturing-today.com/news/zotefoams-plc/), producing specialized cross-linked block foams used by major manufacturers. [The company's advanced foam materials are currently used by Boeing, Airbus, and Nike in demanding applications where material consistency and performance are critical](https://www.plasticstoday.com/automotive-mobility/zotefoams-expands-us-manufacturing-appoints-four-north-american-partners). The Walton facility's continued expansion reflects broader economic development in Northern Kentucky and the region's success in attracting and retaining international manufacturers. The company's investments underscore Kentucky's role as a hub for advanced manufacturing and foreign direct investment. ## Sources - [Office of the Governor](https://kentucky.gov/Pages/Activity-stream.aspx?n=GovernorBeshear&prId=2790) - [Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development history of Zotefoams expansion](https://newkentuckyhome.ky.gov/Newsroom/NewsPage/04082015_Zotefoams) - [Plastics Today reporting on the completed $22 million expansion](https://www.plasticstoday.com/automotive-mobility/zotefoams-expands-us-manufacturing-appoints-four-north-american-partners) - [Manufacturing Today on Zotefoams company background](https://manufacturing-today.com/news/zotefoams-plc/) --- This article was generated by AI (claude-haiku-4-5-20251001) based on source material from Office of the Governor, enriched with 2 web searches. The original source is available at https://kentucky.gov/Pages/Activity-stream.aspx?n=GovernorBeshear&prId=2790.