Japanese manufacturer expanding Guntersville operations to Conners Island Business Park

GUNTERSVILLE — A Japan-based electronics manufacturer is expanding its Guntersville operations with plans to nearly quadruple its workforce.

JST Corp., an advanced electronic connector manufacturer in Japan, announced recently it will build another facility in Guntersville.

“We have been very intentional about the right kind of tenants for Conners Island Business Park,” said Mayor Leigh Dollar said. “It is a real honor for a global leader like JST to validate our long relationship with such a marquee facility.”

JST has been in Guntersville for about 20 years and has 30 employees at its facility where it designs and makes cable assemblies and inifite switch connectors.

Now, with the engineering and production space coming to Conners Island, the company said it is expected to add 80 employees and possibly expand further. The Conners Island plant is expected to open in 2026.

“We are excited to expand on our success in Guntersville with the Conners Island manufacturing and design facility,” said Division Manager Phillip Mosley. “These are really good paying jobs especially when you’re talking an automated factory, you’re talking software engineers, programming, technicians.

“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.”

Headquartered in Kyoto, JST is a supplier for companies such as Whirlpool, Electrolux, Ford, Tesla, Lucid Motors, Stellanis, General Motors and Bose. It makes components for cable assemblies, airbag deployment pyrotechnics, refrigerators, electric and gas ranges, commercial washers and dryers, LCD monitors and televisions, and DSLR cameras.