East Troy-based Wisconsin Oven Corp. plans to add 80 to 90 employees through 2019 and has purchased a 130,000-square-foot facility to facilitate the expansion.
The company, which manufactures industrial ovens and heat treating equipment, bought the former Plymouth Tube facility located between its two factories in East Troy for $1.7 million, according to state records.
Warrenville, Illinois-based Plymouth Tube closed the facility in 2014. Strand said Wisconsin Oven has been leasing some space in the building from the company while working towards the close of the transaction.
The 9.6-acre property had an assessed value of $1,718,900, according to Walworth County records.
“We are very excited to secure this facility,” said Dave Strand, Wisconsin Oven president and chief executive officer. “Over the next year we will be doing some extensive renovation, and plan on hiring 80 to 90 employees between 2017-2019.”
The job growth is expected to come primarily in mechanical and electrical engineering jobs as well as manufacturing. Wisconsin Oven Corp. has about 175 employees in East Troy. The Thermal Product Solutions family of companies, which Strand also leads, has more than 400 employees, including facilities in California, Pennsylvania and Michigan.
Strand said the expansion is primarily being driven by growth in the use of composite materials, particularly in the automotive and aerospace industries. He noted the push to travel to Mars and expand space flight to commercial opportunities is among the contributing factors.
The purchase will double Wisconsin Oven’s available shop floor space and allow for more office space as well. He said the space is needed particularly as the company is building large footprint ovens.
“We’re building ovens that are larger than the building,” he said. “It’s amazing.”
The company’s total investment in the facility will be more than $2.5 million after purchase and renovation.
