Farmers will plant the most acres in a generation this year, led by the biggest corn crop since World War II, taking advantage of the highest agricultural prices in at least four decades.Busche Enterprise Division Inc., an Albion company that makes parts for cars, trucks and heavy equipment, continues to expand.
Busche announced Wednesday it bought Citation Corp.’s Albion factory and will continue to employ the 25 people working there.
“There’s definitely room to grow,” Busche spokeswoman LeAnn Gray said of the facility, although she knew of no immediate plans to add to its operations. But a news release from Busche said the company expects to “double production employment at the plant by the end of 2010.”
Gray declined to disclose the purchase price of the 68,000-square-foot building at 1612 Progress Drive.
Busche closed on the deal Monday, Gray said. The acquired facility is now Plant 8 in Busche’s operations in Albion and Kendallville.
“The addition of the Citation Albion facility will allow us to continue our growth and technical capability expansion and will solidify our relationship with Citation Corp., one of the premier casting companies in the U.S.,” Busche President Nick A. Busche said in a statement.
Citation, based in Novi, Mich., mostly made marine engine manifolds in its Albion plant. In selling it, Citation President and CEO Doug Grimm said the plant’s operations were a better fit for Busche.
“We’re accelerating our effort to concentrate on core iron casting and machining, …” Grimm said in a statement.
Including workers at its newest plant, Busche has added almost 100 to its payroll in the past year, bringing the workforce to more than 350.
Busche is privately owned and doesn’t disclose annual revenue.
