Modula

Industry Sector: Advanced Manufacturing, Foreign Direct Investment

Modula has invested $34.7 million in its manufacturing facility in Franklin, Ohio and hired more than 100 workers. That investment is almost $9 million more than what it promised when JobsOhio provided its assistance to help the company come to Ohio in 2019.

Founded in 1987, Modula is an Italian company that designs and manufactures automatic vertical warehouses, also known as vertical lift modules, which are suitable for any industrial sector or environment. In 2015, Modula became the first manufacturer of vertical lift modules in North America with an investment in Lewiston, Maine.

Ohio’s role as a leader in advanced manufacturing is vital as companies embrace new ways of making things with additive manufacturing, automation, advanced materials, and other new technologies. The numerous manufacturing resources in the state include a renowned innovation network, leading global companies like Modula, a strong industry, and academic organizations for skilled talent.

Learn more about manufacturing in Ohio:

• Ohio’s integrated transportation infrastructure — recognized as one of the best in the U.S. — enables Ohio companies to reach customers and suppliers quickly and cost-effectively within and outside the state.
• Advanced manufacturing companies in Ohio are innovating in areas like industrial internet of things (IIoT), additive manufacturing, 3-D printing, automation, advanced materials (including glass-filled composites), and advanced metal alloys.

Modula operates across a variety of industries including automotive, pharmaceuticals/medical, e-commerce, and grocery, contributing to Ohio’s thriving economy.

Modula chose Ohio and specifically the Cincinnati region because of its proximity to customers, and a strong infrastructure capable of supporting faster and more efficient product delivery. Planning for future growth, the Franklin facility is not simply a manufacturing facility, but also a logistics hub.

Antonio Pagano, CEO, shares, “After an accurate analysis, we chose Ohio and particularly the Cincinnati area because of the excellent location, the great industrial presence, and the high professionalism of JobsOhio and REDI Cincinnati, who helped us in the whole process.”

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and JobsOhio President and CEO J.P. Nauseef recently had a virtual discussion with Antonio Pagano, CEO of Modula Incorporated, to talk about how Ohio’s culture and logistics assets benefit Modula, how partnerships in Ohio supported the investment, and why other companies should consider investing in the state. Governor DeWine credits JobsOhio with the ability to move quickly, Ohio’s amazing workforce in which the state continuously invests, and the quality of life in Ohio, all which contribute to bringing major businesses like Modula to the state.

Ohio is a well-established base for companies moving goods around the globe and is easily accessible to much of the U.S. and Canada; in fact, it’s just a one-day drive from 60% of the two countries’ populations.

Major cities, including Chicago, New York City, and Toronto, are easily accessible via air, rail, and road. Among the nation’s leaders for trucking and storing goods, Ohio’s north coast on Lake Erie includes a powerful and convenient shipping service linking the Industrial Midwest, the Port of Toledo, and the Great Lakes to Europe.

Learn more about living and working in Ohio.

JobsOhio and its regional partner in southwest Ohio, REDI Cincinnati, came together with available site options and a plan on how to set up Modula for further success. Modula’s initial plan was to establish separate facilities for its manufacturing operation and its logistics hub, but after seeing the historic former home of the Dayton Daily News printing plant, the facility met all of Modula’s manufacturing needs and encompassed every aspect of the company’s vision for expansion, including capacity for Modula to grow. The location and a robust infrastructure could support faster and more efficient product delivery, allowing Modula to turn the facility into a combined manufacturing and logistics hub.

“We and our partners at REDI Cincinnati and Warren County are delighted to welcome Modula, Inc. to Ohio,” said Nauseef. “Modula’s Franklin investment will revive a vacant facility and employ at least 100 Ohioans who will support Modula’s ongoing innovation and worldwide growth in the automotive storage and retrieval systems space.”

Ohio recognizes the importance of continued investment to drive economic prosperity, stimulate funding, and create high-quality jobs. People from across the nation are finding the career they want and the lifestyle they deserve in Ohio.

JobsOhio supports local Ohioans with job opportunities and the businesses by connecting with local talent in Ohio. To explore career opportunities with Modula and other major businesses in Ohio, visit Find Your Ohio.

We’re here to help you with site selection, talent, expansion, and development projects.