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(New Albany, Indiana) – Kennametal Conforma Clad will invest $2.8 million to expand its metal cladding facility here.

The project includes an addition of nearly 42,000-square-feet as well as the purchase nearly $9 million in new machinery and equipment over the next five years, according to a news release by One Southern Indiana, an economic development group supporting the Southern Indiana/Greater Louisville region.

Kennametal Conforma Clad provides solutions for the severe abrasive and corrosive wear of metal parts and tools required in high-performance, industrial markets. According to the company, its metal cladding process protects treated components from combinations of corrosion, abrasion and erosion. Founded in New Albany in 1981, Conforma Clad was purchased in 2004 by Kennametal Inc., a global tooling solutions, engineered components, and advanced materials provider based in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.

The company employs 187 at its New Albany facility and expects to add five employees after the expansion.

"(This) area has always provided us with a great workforce and friendly business environment," said Colleen Cordova, Kennametal Vice President Energy, Chemicals and Power Business. "Kennametal recently announced its 19th consecutive quarter of growth and we are looking forward to investing in continued long-term growth of our operations."

According to One Southern Indiana, the city of New Albany is prepared to offer tax abatement to Kennametal at an upcoming council meeting.

For more information on Kennametal visit http://www.kennametal.com. For more information on One Southern Indiana visit http://www.1si.org.