GUNTERSVILLE, Alabama – A global leader in the design and manufacturing of electronic connectors plans to expand its North Alabama operations in a $500 million project that will create 80 jobs.
Japan-based JST Corp. will build an automation-based facility in Guntersville’s Conners Island Business Park. The project is expected to cover 540,000 square feet and feature a design that incorporates the natural setting of the 240-acre property next to Lake Guntersville.
Governor Kay Ivey said the company’s expansion is a testament to the dedication and expertise of the local workforce, as well as years of strong partnerships with the surrounding community.
“When companies move to Alabama, the talented and hard-working people of our state come alongside them in every way. From committed employees to loyal supporters, they are focused on success,” Governor Ivey said. “We are thrilled to see JST grow its presence in Guntersville and eager to watch this new operation come to life.”
Guntersville has been home to a small JST facility since 2003, and the company’s success in the city played a key role in its decision to choose North Alabama for its first major investment in the southeastern U.S., officials said.
The Guntersville plant has handled a number of significant projects, including supplying all of the cable assemblies for The Las Vegas Sphere.
“We are excited to expand on our success in Guntersville,” said Phillip Mosley, sales manager for JST. “This will be a showcase for both the company and the state, combining our AI-driven automation with Alabama’s natural beauty in a unique facility.”
Based on extensive robotic systems, every phase of production will be part of an automated process including injection molding, stamping and plating, as well as connector and cable assembly.
In addition to the 25 full-time JST employees currently in Guntersville, the new facility is expected to add 80 more jobs initially. The combined manufacturing and design center will include a significant number of engineering and other professional positions.
The development will also include a 10,000-square-foot sales, marketing and engineering building adjacent to the design and production facility.
“Innovative companies like JST are the backbone of our thriving advanced manufacturing sector,” said Alabama Secretary of Commerce Ellen McNair. “They show what is possible when strategy, ingenuity and commitment combine in developments that help bring prosperity to every corner of the state.”
Based in Osaka, JST was founded in 1957 and operates 70 facilities in 17 countries. The company’s electronic connectors are used in industries including automotive, appliance, consumer electronics, medical, transportation systems, robotics, gaming and amusement and business equipment.
The company said the Conners Island location provides a strategic opportunity to expand JST’s growing presence in Alabama’s extensive auto manufacturing industry.
Kevin Lauret, JST plant manager for the new facility, said the property itself played a key role in the company’s decision.
Continuing a JST tradition, the facility will feature an architectural design that both reflects and protects the natural setting adjacent to the 69,000-acre Lake Guntersville.
JST’s architectural partner, Ryuchi Ashizawa of Osaka, Japan, is known for seamlessly incorporating facility design, landscaping and natural resource preservation into his work.
Ashizawa won a prestigious international award for the design of the JST engineering center in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He also designed JST’s new Detroit, Michigan, facility, which is currently in the final phase of construction. Both projects are integrated into wooded environments and reflect the same aesthetic approach that will be evident in the upcoming Guntersville facility.
“The property’s large footprint is ideal for JST’s commitment to environmental stewardship,” Lauret said. “Our plans include keeping the bulk of the property in its natural state.”
Lauret added that some of the property will be available for public use. That includes retaining the cross-country track for the Guntersville High School team, which hosts large regional events at Conners Island.
Guntersville Mayor Leigh Dollar said JST’s relationship with the city has been solid example of job growth through expansion and retention — and the value of patience in economic development.
“We have been very intentional about the right kind of tenants for Conners Island Business Park,” Mayor Dollar said. “It is a real honor for a global leader like JST to validate our long relationship with such a marquee facility.”
