Canadian Manufacturer Expands to Alabama

Fiberglass component manufacturer Carlson Engineered Composites recently announced plans to expand its operations to Anniston, Alabama.

The Canadian company will be locating in an existing 67,000-square-foot building with operations scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2015. The project represents a capital investment of $3 million and will create 75 new jobs in Calhoun County.

"Alabama is committed to helping the advanced manufacturing sector thrive, and we're seeing manufacturers add jobs through expansions and new facilities across the state," said Alabama secretary of commerce Greg Canfield. "This project from Carlson is another example of that, and it will deliver substantial benefits to Calhoun County."

Carlson Engineered Composites has a similar production facility in St. Cloud, Minnesota, that manufactures fiberglass composites for original equipment manufacturers in the transportation, agricultural, automotive, recreational and food processing industries. One of the company's largest automotive customers is New Flyer Industries, which also has a facility in Anniston.

"We're so excited to have Carlson here," said Larry Deason, chairman of the Calhoun County Economic Development Council. "This is an industry we highly recruited from Winnipeg. They have a great relationship with New Flyer, and we are anticipating even more jobs to come as they increase their market share in the Southeast."

For more information, visit www.calhouncountyedc.org.