Caster Concepts Inc., a leading maker of industrial, heavy-duty wheels and casters, announces a 16,000-square-foot, $2 million expansion of its headquarters in Central Michigan.
The expansion will accommodate a larger engineering department and additional space for product development and testing and recent business acquisitions. Caster Concepts plans for more office space, truck docks for increased orders and deliveries, and a larger manufacturing work area and employee facilities.
"We’re betting on future growth," said Caster Concepts President Bill Dobbins. "Unlike most companies, we function better with lots of space. We create unique solutions for customers, and that requires more room for testing. We want to be prepared for the next great innovation."
The expansion comes on the heels of a robust 2022. The company’s success is due in part to its design solutions and the fastest lead times and best on-time delivery of any competitor. Dobbins credits the company’s success to its production process, which requires little off-site support.
“Over many years and significant investments, Caster Concepts has developed and refined its manufacturing process,” Dobbins said. “By combining on-time delivery, short lead times and getting the customer what they want, Caster Concepts creates value for all stakeholders.”
What began in 1987 with three employees in a 6,000-square-foot workspace now features 125 employees, multiple machine shops and four subsidiaries (Aerol, Conceptual Innovations, Reaction Industries and Fabricating Concepts) all under one roof.
That roof will soon span 90,000 square feet of combined manufacturing and office space. Caster Concepts hired D.H. Roberts Construction out of Jonesville, Michigan, to build the addition and Driven Design from Battle Creek to oversee the design and engineering. The project is slated for completion in March.
Caster Concepts’ expanding footprint matches its growing impact on Albion. The company invests in the well-being of its employees, education and technology initiatives for youth and community redevelopment. In 2022, the company was awarded the 2022 Corporate Impact Award by the State of Michigan.
"Our community initiatives are an essential part of our purpose to manufacture greatness within our employees to positively impact their families, communities and customers," Dobbins said.