Caster Concepts investing $2M to expand Albion facility

ALBION, MI – Caster Concepts Inc. is preparing for future growth with a $2 million expansion of its Albion facility

The manufacturer is planning to build an additional 16,000-square-foot space at its headquarters , headquartered at 16000 Michigan Ave.

"Our goal is to build a healthy and sustainable business, so we’re in it for the long run," Caster Concepts President William Dobbins said. "We try to make our decisions (not) based on what's going to happen in the next quarter or the next half year, but on what's going to happen in the next five to 10 years, whatever it may be."

Caster Concepts manufactures industrial, heavy-duty wheels and casters. The addition onto the back of the building bringing its current space to 90,000 square feet.

A use for the extra space hasn't been finalized, but Dobbins said it could accommodate a larger engineering department and create room for potential future products.

"We’re going to be ready for opportunities when they come along," Dobbins said. "We need space to adequately do that and efficiently do it."

This is the fourth expansion for Caster Concepts over the years. The company began in 1987 with three employees in a 6,000-square-foot workspace, Dobbins said.

The office now has 125 employees, with multiple machining shops and subsidiaries, including Aerol, Conceptual Innovations, Reaction Industries and Fabricating Concepts, officials said.

The company credits its success and continued growth to unique design solutions and fast lead times, Dobbins said, adding the company's dedicated and hard-working staff have allowed for another expansion.

"We’re kind of material handling nerds when it comes down to it," Dobbins said. "We like solving people's material handling issues so they can move things safer, and they can move with less people."

Construction on the new additions began in December. The company hoping to be working out of the new space by September, Dobbins said.

Caster Concepts hired D.H. Roberts Construction in Jonesville to manage and build the addition, and Driven Design from Battle Creek to oversee the design and engineering, officials said.

While the expansion won't bring many new jobs to the area, aside from construction, Dobbins said the company hopes it will help protect the jobs they have by preparing for the future.