A Holland, Mich.-based thermoformer is primed for growth with an expansion that will more than double the size of its current facility.
Formed Solutions Inc. is expanding from 42,000 square feet to 104,000 square feet. According to owner and President Lyle Schut, the price tag of the expansion is about $3 million.
Founded in 1998, Schut said FSI consistently invests in technology, talent and production capacity to make large, complex, high-quality parts.
"We have outgrown the space that we had," Schut said in a telephone interview. "We built the original facility 16 years ago, but we have been tight on space for the last few years."
With business increasing over the last few years, Schut said it seemed like the perfect time to pursue an expansion. Work is underway, and construction is expected to be completed by April.
FSI serves the office furniture, medical, industrial enclosures and aerospace end markets. Recently, the company has started to expand into the autonomous vehicle sector.
"We have done a little bit of automotive work in the past," Schut said. "Thermoforming isn't really big in automotive, but I think the industry is changing. I think there is going to be more opportunity for thermoforming in automotive over the next decade."
The company recently added a Modern rotary pressure former, bringing its press count to eight machines. It also is adding a Multiax five-axis router.
The company, which had 2018 sales of $6 million, has also added staff, and Schut expects that trend to continue.
"A lot of the added space is going to allow us to organize a little better," he said. "We can restructure and have a better workflow. It also will offer us options for future growth."
While the company does not expect to use all of the space immediately, it will have room for growth.