Liberty Trailers recipient of grant for robotic welding technology

FILLMORE — Having grown greatly this year and now employing just over 60 employees, Liberty Trailers in Fillmore is set to have the ability to increase production thanks to a manufacturing-focused grant.

The trailer manufacturer was recently announced as a recipient of a $100,000 matching grant toward investing in autonomous robotic welding and increasing its internal fabrication capability.

In a partnership with Conexus Indiana, Liberty Trailers is one of 34 businesses in the state awarded funding through the Indiana Economic Development Corporation’s Manufacturing Readiness Grant program. This round of grants totals more than $2.8 million to support $17.4 million in technology-based investments.

The Manufacturing Readiness Grant program was launched last year to stimulate private sector investments in Indiana’s manufacturing. The Indiana General Assembly appropriated $20 million in additional funding to the two-year state budget that runs through June 30, 2023.

This funding has enabled 122 awards to date totaling nearly $9.7 million to companies in 50 counties. Ultimately, capital investments from the program are projected to total more than $68.6 million.