$13.5M investment set for Sandusky County

FREMONT — Engineered Plastic Components recently announced a $13.5 million expansion project in Sandusky County, creating 150 new jobs and boosting the regional economy. Already based in Bellevue, components noted how "the expanded Fremont facility will support growth in automotive, consumer markets, including Whirlpool, and electric vehicle technologies, strengthening our area's manufacturing leadership," according to a statement from the Sandusky County Economic Development Corp. "A big thank you to EPC for investing in our community along with Regional Growth Partnership Northwest Ohio and JobsOhio for their invaluable support in making this happen," the corporation noted. Beth Hannam, the corporation's executive director, noted how, "Filling this vacant facility will undoubtedly boost our local economy and contribute to the growth and vitality of our community." Insight into the investment A press release provides more information about the investment being pursued by Engineered Plastic Components: • The basis: Engineered Plastic Components is a full-service provider for plastic injection molded products. • The history: "The company operates an existing facility in Bellevue, which opened in 2019. Founded in 1994 with headquarters in West Des Moines, Iowa, EPC-Columbia now employs 3,000 team members. The company has grown to more than 600 injection molded machines across its eight manufacturing facilities, ranging from 100 to 4,400 tons." • The investment: It's pursuing a $13.5 million expansion to increase production capacity while supporting the growing customer demand. The state provided a tax credit for this project. "This expansion allows us to increase production capacity, diversify our product offerings and better meet the needs of both consumer appliance and automotive markets," said Reza Kargarzadeh, company president and CEO. • The land: It will "take over a 300,000-square-foot facility in Fremont, providing additional space for production, equipment and workforce operations to support both its Whirlpool partnership and expansion into the automotive sector, serving clients such as Honda, Ford and GM." • The jobs: "The expansion into Sandusky County will create 150 new jobs and will include upgrades to facilities, installation of additional machinery and workforce development initiatives to ensure the team has the necessary skills for operational excellence." • The continued commitment: "Just last year, EPC-Columbia announced an expansion in Bellevue to support the Ford E-Transit All-Electric van. Construction and facility upgrades are near completion for that project, and the company is actively integrating the specialized equipment and processes needed for electric vehicle production." • The added location: "For this Fremont project, company officials recognized the strong talent pool with the right skills and experience critical to operations. Northwest Ohio also provides significant logistics advantages, according to Kargarzadeh, who cited proximity to key customers, transportation networks and major customer hubs. This new location also helps EPC-Columbia support emerging technologies such as electric vehicles, giving the company a first-mover advantage in these high-growth segments, Kargarzadeh added." • The partnerships: "EPC-Columbia highlighted the strong collaboration with local and state economic development groups, including Sandusky County Economic Development Corp., the Regional Growth Partnership and JobsOhio, helping to identify opportunities, navigate resources and ensure the project aligns with regional economic goals." • The timeline: "The Fremont expansion project is expected to begin operations in January 2026 with preparatory work, equipment installation and workforce development underway to ensure a smooth and efficient launch."