Above: A view of Honda's manufacturing facility in Marysville, Ohio, among the top manufacturers in the state (source Honda).
Home to 13,000+ manufacturing companies and more than 800,000 related jobs, Ohio is among the nation’s most powerful states for manufacturing. With its low business costs, solid infrastructure and abundant capital funding, the Buckeye state is home to both major names in the automotive sector and also medical equipment and industrial machinery.
This article will explore the latest trends and statistics in the state's industrial sector and examine the top manufacturing companies in Ohio.
Key Facts on Ohio’s Manufacturing Sector
According to MNI, compiler of the industrial information that powers IndustrySelect, Ohio is currently home to 13,199 manufacturing companies employing 834,169 workers, ranking third in the nation for number of manufacturing jobs.
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According to MNI, Cincinnati is Ohio’s largest city based on number of industrial jobs, with 67,669 workers.
Read more: Top Manufacturing Cities in the U.S.
Other top cities in Ohio include
- Cleveland (46,364 jobs)
- Columbus (43,266 jobs)
- Dayton (19,043 jobs)
- Toledo (19,012 jobs)
Cuyahoga County is Ohio’s largest in terms of manufacturing jobs, home to 123,752 workers. This is followed by Hamilton County with 89,529 workers, and Franklin County with 79,139 workers. Montgomery County is home to 47,956 industrial workers, and Summit is home to 46,171.
The industrial machinery industry ranks as Ohio’s largest manufacturing sector based on number of jobs, employing 17% of the state’s industrial workers. This is followed by fabricated metal products with 12%; and transportation equipment with another 11%. Rubber and miscellaneous plastic products accounts for 9% of Ohio’s industrial workforce, while food products accounts for 8%.
MNI reports there are 51,429 executive contacts among Ohio’s manufacturing companies, including 7,542 presidents, 4,188 owners and partners; 4,592 vice-presidents and 5,656 sales, marketing and purchasing executives.
Other facts to know about Ohio manufacturers, based on IndustrySelect’s advanced criteria available to subscribers, include ownership, distribution and other trends. Let’s take a look:
- 2% of Ohio manufacturers are women-owned
- 9% are publicly owned companies
- 13% import raw materials
- 28% distribute their products internationally.
Next, we’ll take a look at the state’s top companies.
Top 10 Manufacturing Companies in Ohio
| Company | Employees | City | State |
|---|---|---|---|
| General Electric Co. | 6,500 | Cincinnati | OH |
| Stellantis US, LLC | 5,000 | Toledo | OH |
| Bath & Body Works, Inc. | 4,816 | Columbus | OH |
| Swagelok Co. | 4,800 | Solon | OH |
| Honda Of America Manufacturing, Inc. | 4,600 | Marysville | OH |
| Honda Of America Manufacturing, Inc. | 3,500 | Anna | OH |
| Whirlpool Corp., Clyde Opers. | 3,500 | Clyde | OH |
| The Lincoln Electric Co. | 3,350 | Cleveland | OH |
| Crown Equipment Corp. | 3,000 | New Bremen | OH |
| The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. | 3,000 | Akron | OH |
Access detailed profiles of 17,000+ Ohio manufacturers and their 44,000+ executives (including direct email!) with the Ohio Manufacturing Industry Database, only from MNI.
About the Top 10 Manufacturing Companies in Ohio
1. General Electric Co. (Cincinnati, OH)
With reported annual sales of $16.8 billion and encompassing 6.5 million square-feet of manufacturing space GE Aviation’s Cincinnati plant is a major operation. This location employs 6,500 Ohio workers and manufactures turboprop and turboshaft engines for cargo, executive, and passenger jets as well as bombers and helicopter. The facility also offers aircraft engine derivatives for marine propulsion and industrial power sources, while its services unit provides maintenance, service, and spare parts.
2. Stellantis US, LLC (Toldeo, OH)
At this 3.6 million square-foot plant in Toledo, 5,000 workers focus on assembling the Jeep Cherokee, Jeep Wrangler, and Jeep Gladiator. In 2016, the company won a silver designation in World Class Manufacturing—the first U.S. manufacturing plant to be awarded such as distinction.
3. Bath & Body Works (Columbus, OH)
Employing 4,816, Bath & Body Works in Columbus produces a wide range of personal care and beauty products and home fragrance products. This location also serves as the company’s headquarters.
4. Swagelok Co. (Solon, OH)
Established in 1947, this Swagelok Co. location functions as the company’s headquarters and produces a range of fluid systems, including valves, tube fittings & components. Employing 4,800 workers in Solon, Swagelok distributes its products around the world.
5. Honda of America Manufacturing, Inc. (Marysville, OH)
Employing 5,000 Ohio workers, Honda’s Marysville location ranks among the state’s largest employers based on number of jobs. Established in 1979, this facility produces a range of passenger vehicle models, including the Accord Sedan, Acura RDX, and the VTX 1300 V-Twin Cruiser.
6. Honda of America, Anna Engine Plant (Anna, OH)
Employing 3,500, Honda’s Anna, Ohio plant was established in 1985 and produces automotive engines, supplying the company’s Maryville plant.
7. Whirlpool Corp., Clyde Operations (Clyde, OH)
Employing 3,500 in Cleveland, this150,000 square-foot-facility produces washing machines, including the Kenmore and Roper.
8. The Lincoln Electric Co. (Cleveland, OH)
The Lincoln Electric Co. is a global leader in welding and cutting solutions, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio. Employing 3,350, the company designs and manufactures arc welding equipment, consumables, robotic welding systems, and plasma cutting products used across industries such as construction, automotive, and shipbuilding.
9. Crown Equipment Corp. (New Bremen, OH)
Crown Equipment Corporation, based in New Bremen, is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of material handling equipment. The company produces electric lift trucks, pallet jacks, and warehouse automation systems used in logistics, retail, and manufacturing.
10. The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. (Akron, OH)
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company, headquartered in Akron, is among the world’s most recognized tire manufacturers. The company produces tires for passenger vehicles, commercial trucks, aircraft, and heavy equipment, as well as retreading and mobility solutions.
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Editor's Note: This article was originally published in November of 2021. It has been updated to reflect new trends and statistics on Ohio's manufacturing sector.
Sources
https://www.industryselect.com
https://media.stellantisnorthamerica.com/newsrelease.do?id=339