Commercial manufacturer expanding plant in Bedford

Commercial kitchen ventilation system and HVAC equipment manufacturer CaptiveAire recently announced plans to expand its Northeast Manufacturing Center in Bedford, Pennsylvania, doubling the size of its current facility.

“We are thrilled to expand our Bedford manufacturing facility,” CaptiveAire President Bob Luddy said. “This growth will provide the capacity we need to improve the manufacturing quality of our products. The additional truck bays will enable faster shipping times, shortening lead times for our customers. We are truly honored to have the strong support of the Bedford community, and we are grateful for the excellent performance of our production teams.”

The Northeast Manufacturing Center serves customers in CaptiveAire’s Mid-Atlantic, New England, and Canadian regions. When CaptiveAire initially bought the property in 2008, the company immediately expanded the 67,000 sq. ft. plant to 84,000 sq. ft. The manufacturer will now add another 84,000 sq. ft. to the facility.

“CaptiveAire is an exceptional company that consistently demonstrates the strength of Bedford County as a place to do business,” JP Tambourine, chair of the Bedford County Development Association, said. “We congratulate Bob Luddy and CaptiveAire’s skilled and dedicated employees on the company’s growth and continued success. We truly appreciate the company’s commitment to Bedford County.”

The total project cost is estimated at $11 million, $5 million of which will be invested in the construction of the building. The remaining $6 million will be used for new equipment acquisition.

CaptiveAire currently has 90 sales offices around the United States and Canada, with six manufacturing plants in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Oklahoma, California, and Florida. The Bedford location employs more than 1,300 people with approximately 130 jobs. Twelve new jobs are expected with the coming expansion.