Andersen Corporation, the company perhaps best known for its window and door product lines, recently broke ground on a 60,000 square-foot expansion of its manufacturing campus in Bayport, Minnesota. The $40 million expansion is expected to create at least 40 full-time production jobs.
The growth stems primarily from increased demand for products made with Andersen's proprietary Fibrex® material. It blends wood fiber, most of which is reclaimed from other Andersen manufacturing processes, and a thermoplastic polymer, some of which is also recovered. The material has garnered more than 25 U.S. patents and has grown in popularity due to the combined durability of wood and low-maintenance advantages of vinyl.
Andersen stated that the decision to expand in Bayport was driven by an experienced workforce, the availability of land, and proximity to the production of related products. Construction is expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2019. In addition to adding operational space, the expansion will also include an infiltration basin for stormwater management and the planting of native vegetation that the company says will benefit the nearby St. Croix River.
At the groundbreaking ceremony, Andersen also announced a $10,000 donation to the St. Croix River Association. The grant supports the St. Croix Watershed Protection Fund. Founded in 1903, Andersen is a privately held company with more than 12,000 employees at manufacturing sites in North America and Europe.
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