Caster Concepts breaks ground on $2M expansion at Albion headquarters

May 26, 2023

PARMA TWP. — Albion-based manufacturer Caster Concepts is expanding its existing headquarters northeast of downtown, a move company President Bill Dobbins said reflects anticipated growth.

"We’re betting on future growth," Dobbins said in a release. "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 $2 million, 16,000-square-foot expansion will accommodate a larger engineering department, additional floor space for product development and testing and room for recent business acquisitions. The company also plans additional truck docks for increased orders and deliveries, more office space and a larger manufacturing work area and employee facilities.

Work is currently underway and is expected to be complete in August.

"We can be space hogs and our large projects flow better through manufacturing if we have space to efficiently work on them," Caster Concepts Vice President of Manufacturing Andrew Dobbins said. "This is a commitment to our employees to continue to grow and ensure these jobs are around for a long time."

Caster Concepts manufactures industrial, heavy-duty casters and wheels for a variety of applications. What began in 1987 with just three employees in a 6,000-square-foot workspace in the back of a doctor's downtown Albion office has now blossomed to include 125 employees, four subsidiaries (Aerol, Conceptual Innovations, Reaction Industries and Fabricating Concepts) and multiple machining shops — headlined by the company's more than 70,000-square-foot headquarters in the township.

That facility will soon span 90,000 square feet of combined manufacturing and office space. Caster Concepts hired D.H. Roberts Construction of Jonesville, southwest of Jackson, to manage and build the addition and Driven Design of Battle Creek to oversee the design and engineering.

The expansion comes on the heels of a strong 2022 for Caster Concepts. Bill 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 a manufacturing process," Dobbins said. "By combining on-time delivery, short lead times and getting the customer what they want, when they want it, Caster Concepts creates value for all stakeholders."

The company's expanding footprint has also meant growth for Albion, with Dobbins placing an emphasis on investing in the health and well-being of employees, education and technology programs for kids and community redevelopment through the company's philanthropic arm, Caster Cares.

In recognition of those efforts, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Community Service Commission named Caster Concepts a recipient of the 2022 Corporate Impact Award.

"Our community initiatives are an essential part of Caster Concepts' purpose to manufacture greatness within our employees to positively impact their families, communities and customers," Dobbins said in Tuesday's release.

Contact reporter Greyson Steele at [email protected]