D. Martin Enterprises, a half-century-old family-owned firm, has just opened a new $30 million headquarters in Michigan City.
The company, which services the steel industry both along the lakeshore and nationally, built a new building at 50 Motts Parkway in Michigan City. It now has 2,350 square feet of manufacturing space, 4,000 square feet of office space and massive overhead cranes capable of lifting up to 80 tons.
"This is a big milestone. It's the 50th anniversary, and we get to open this huge new building, so it's expansion and building a bigger team and a brighter future," Communications Director Corey Martin said.
D. Martin Enterprises provides a variety of services to electric arc furnaces at mini-mills, including refractory installations, repairs and designs. It helps steelmakers like NLMK in Portage with flow control, robotics and slide gate repairs.
The company is in the process of hiring 20 to 30 more employees. The expansion will enable the company handle more customers and a higher volume of business.
"We're centrally located so we can serve mills along the lakefront, as well as in California, Arizona, Utah, Colorado and Pennsylvania," Martin said.
D. Martin Enterprises added new equipment and expanded existing equipment, including its furnace and overhead cranes. It has several gargantuan cranes capable of moving 10 tons, 20 tons, 30 tons and 80 tons.
"We can do a lot more," she said. "We just keep growing. Sales are up. We saw the time to do it is now."
D. Martin Enterprises had rented space at 310 Commerce Square and owns its new building. It has room to expand in the future, such as by adding new bays, Martin said.
"I think it puts us up there with some of the biggest companies in our ability to serve bigger customers and better serve our current customers," she said.
D. Martin Enterprises celebrated a ribbon-cutting ceremony with dignitaries Friday.
"Expanding in Michigan City is fantastic," Mayor Angela Nelson Deuitch said. "We're excited that they're committed to their 100 employees, but also us in Michigan City. "Seeing their vision come to reality is fantastic. This facility shows how a simple idea can become a third-generation legacy in the steel industry. Kudos and hats off to them. We're just excited they decided to do it in Michigan City."
The company was founded in 1975 and has been run by the Martin family for three generations.
Economic Development Corp. Michigan City Executive Director Clarence L. Hulse said the owners invested $20 million in the new building and up to $10 million for the equipment.
"We're excited," Hulse said. "We like to see these kinds of projects. When they've been here for so long and they haven't invested in the facility, you always get scared that they get bought up by some big investor and get watered down. Now they're buying a building. If for no other reason, it's a great story that a business is being retained and expanded. They're here to stay."
Such investment speaks well of Michigan City and its economic direction, he said.
"They liked the business climate," Hulse said. "They're getting their workforce needs filled. It's a great story for the community."
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