The Right Place assists fabrication and machining company with Greenville expansion

Today The Right Place, Inc., in collaboration with the Montcalm Economic Alliance (MEA), the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) and the City of Greenville announced that full-service fabrication and machining company, Aquest Machining & Assembly (www.aquestmachining.com), a Division of FabX Industries, will be expanding its current location at 715 Callaghan St. in Greenville. This expansion will result in the creation of 12 jobs and a capital investment of $1.3 million.

In 1996, Aquest Machining was founded in the City of Greenville, where it primarily operated in the cutting and machining of aluminum extrusions. Over time, the company diversified its offerings and customer-base to serve a larger share of the market. In recent years, Aquest Machining has seen impressive sales growth and increased its workforce by nearly 40%. The company was acquired by FabX Industries, Inc. in 2018, and now operates under the leadership of President and CEO, Gopi Ganta.

With continued growth and new product offering opportunities, Aquest Machining found itself in need of additional manufacturing space. The company plans to establish sheet metal fabrication operations (www.lasertecfab.com) involving laser cutting and forming at its Greenville facility, which will be made possible by the 7,500 square foot expansion of its current building. The growth will lead to the creation of 12 jobs in addition to its 27-person workforce.

“Aquest Machining has grown and evolved significantly over the years to better serve our clients, largely due in part to the high-caliber, dedicated team we’ve developed here in West Michigan,” said Gopi Ganta, president and CEO, FabX Industries, “We’re thankful for the hands-on, dedicated assistance of The Right Place, MEA, and MEDC as we brought this expansion to fruition, and we look forward to continuing our growth locally with their support.”

The Right Place worked in collaboration with Aquest Machining and the MEDC to ensure the company continued its growth in the region. The Right Place also connected the company to workforce development resources at West Michigan Works! and Montcalm Community College to assist with workforce recruitment and training.

“Aquest Machining’s decision to further invest in Greenville means good jobs for Michigan residents and underscores the strength of the state’s manufacturing talent,” said Jeff Mason, CEO of MEDC, the state’s chief marketing and business attraction agency, responsible for enabling long-term economic opportunity for all Michiganders.

“We’re pleased to work with our local partners and support this investment, and we look forward to working with the company as it continues to grow and add jobs in Michigan,” Mason said.

The MEDC is supporting the expansion effort with the approval of a $60,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant from the Michigan Strategic Fund. The City of Greenville is considering a P.A. 198 in support of the project.

“With a reputation of excellence and the considerable growth it’s seen in recent years, Aquest Machining’s decision to continue expanding in the region instead of pursuing opportunities elsewhere speaks volumes to the quality of our business environment here in Montcalm County,” said Kathy Jo VanderLaan, Montcalm County business development coordinator for The Right Place and project lead.

George Bosanic, city manager for the City of Greenville, looks forward to the company’s continued growth in the region, “For more than two decades, Aquest Machining has played a significant role in our community. We are excited to support them as they expand into new markets and create additional opportunities for our residents.”