Caster Concepts begins $2 million expansion of Albion headquarters

        Parma TWP. — Albion-based manufacturer Caster Concepts is expanding its existing headquarters northeast of downtown, a move that transportation company President Bill Dobbins said reflects expected growth.
        “We are betting on future growth,” Dobbins said in the release. “Unlike most companies, we work better with more space. We create unique solutions for our clients who require more testing space. We want to be ready for the next great innovation.”
        The $2 million, 16,000-square-foot expansion will house a larger engineering department, additional space for product development and testing, and space for recent business acquisitions. The company also plans to add truck docks to increase order and delivery volumes, additional office space and larger production and employee space.
        “If we have enough space to operate efficiently, we can dominate the space and our larger projects can move better through the manufacturing process,” said Andrew Dobbins, vice president of manufacturing at Caster Concepts. “This is a commitment to our employees to continue to grow and ensure that these jobs remain for the long term.”
        Caster Concepts manufactures industrial heavy duty casters and wheels for a variety of applications. The company began with three employees in 1987 in a 6,000-square-foot space behind a doctor’s office in downtown Albion and has grown to 125 employees and four subsidiaries (Aerol, Conceptual Innovations, Reaction Industries and Fabricating Concepts) and a variety of manufacturing equipment. stores, most notably the company’s 70,000-square-foot headquarters in the city.
        The facility will soon have 90,000 square feet of manufacturing and office space. Caster Concepts hired DH Roberts Construction of Jonesville, southwest of Jackson, to manage and build the addition and design in Battle Creek to oversee design and engineering.
        The expansion follows strong results from Caster Concepts in 2022. Bill Dobbins attributes the company’s success to its manufacturing process, which requires little to no outside support.
        “Caster Concepts has developed and refined its manufacturing process through significant investment over the years,” Dobbins said. “By combining on-time delivery, short lead times and providing customers with the products they need when they need them, Caster Concepts creates value for all stakeholders.”
       The company’s expansion also means growth for Albion, with Dobbins emphasizing investments in employee health and wellness, children’s education and technology programs, and community restoration through the company’s philanthropic arm, Caster Cares.
       In recognition of these efforts, Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Public Works Commission recognized Caster Concepts with the 2022 Corporate Impact Award.
       “Our community initiatives are an important part of Caster Concepts’ purpose to empower our employees to create excellence that positively impacts their families, communities and customers,” Dobbins said in a press release Tuesday.