Carlsen reveals expectations to expand brand new plant
The Canadian firm cuts the ribbon for its new custom hinge plant in Rome.
Carlsen Precision Manufacturing has built their new plant with a definite eye on expansion.
Steve Caslick, vice president of operations for Carlsen parent company Larsen & Shaw, told city and county officials the north wall of the 25,000 square foot building was designed for removal to facilitate another 45,000 square feet of manufacturing space.
During a tour of the plant, located at 330 Industrial Boulevard in the Floyd County Industrial Park near Georgia Highlands College, Caslick pointed out a lot of empty space.
“We’ve got eight acres here. We want to make the most of it,” Caslick said. “We believe growth will come.”
The existing building can house an additional two automated manufacturing lines and he could foresee the need to add on to the building in the next four to six years.
Larsen & Shaw Chairman of the Board, John Larsen, said the family owned company had been considering the acquisition of competitors for most of the last decade before opting to expand into the U.S. by itself.
A trip to Germany in 2013 convinced Larsen and company executives to pattern their plan for expansion after the German model that stresses the relationship between industry, government and education.
“You are well along
that development road in Rome and Floyd County,” Larsen said. He specifically referred to workforce training programs at the Floyd County College and Career Academy and Georgia Northwestern Technical College.
The new facility will use a catchment system to take advantage of rainwater for use in its processes and will recycle all of its wastewater.
The company announced plans to locate in Rome in August of 2016 and rolled the first product off the line in Rome on August 24, one week ahead of the original timetable.
Caslick said that local companies including Steel King, Fairbanks and Lindale Machine were all important partners in equipping and servicing the new plant.