A manufacturer of aluminum extrusion products is investing US$30.4 million to expand in Belding, which is expected to add 38 jobs.
The Right Place teamed up with the Ionian County Economic Alliance (ICEA) and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) on Tuesday, November 11, stating that the Extruded Aluminum Corporation (EAC) Location for expansion. 16.
On-site work has begun, and EAC expects to complete the building construction in the summer. Stamping equipment is expected to be installed in the fall, and production will start at the end of 2022.
EAC was established in 1987 in the town of Otisco (adjacent to Belding) in Ionian County, and was facilitated by 11 families seeking to invest in the community. Today, these 11 families are still investors in EAC, and EAC has grown exponentially since. This expansion is the ninth expansion in the company's history.
The company currently employs approximately 160 team members between EAC and its sister company, Aluminium Fabrication Corporation. EAC serves various growth industries that have flourished during the pandemic, the most famous of which are solar energy, material handling, trucks and trailers, and defense.
To meet growing customer demand, the company purchased a 14-acre plot of land near its existing facilities to accommodate the expansion. The additional 176,000 square feet of space will allow EAC to accommodate more production, processing and processing equipment. The expanded business will enable EAC to recruit and recruit 38 jobs, from inspection and packaging to material handling, maintenance and supervision.
"As the market for extruded aluminum products continues to grow, we must increase production capacity to meet customer needs," said Charles Hall, President of EAC. "Our company has a long history in the Belding community, and continuing to expand our influence here is something we are very pleased to be able to do. We thank The Right Place team and its partners in MEDC for providing us throughout the expansion process support."
The Right Place and ICEA work with EAC and MEDC to ensure that the company continues to grow in the region rather than out-of-state. With the approval of the $250,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant, MEDC is supporting expansion through the Michigan Strategic Fund.
Work in West Michigan! And Moncham Community College will support the project through a workforce training package.
"Extruded Aluminum has long been an aspect of the local business community and has made a significant contribution to the economic health of the region," said Travis Alden, senior director of community development and project leader at The Right Place. "West Michigan provides an ideal environment for businesses to thrive, and EAC chose to continue to grow here after operating in the area for more than 3 years, which further proves this view."
EAC offers a complete series of extrusions, from the original linear standard shape to fully manufactured and completed complex custom extrusions. The company provides products for solar, material handling, automobiles, trucks/trailers, military, construction, electronics, sports equipment and utility companies.