Targeting continued growth in the aftermarket, Dorman Products broke ground April 4 in Portland, TN, on its largest production and distribution facility yet.
The new facility will “dramatically” increase the company’s ability to serve its customer base by expanding upon Dorman’s existing logistical presence in North America, according to a company statement. Dorman has five locations in the United States, and has operated in Portland since 2006, where it currently employs 380 people.
The new $55 million, state-of-the-art, 815,000-square-foot facility should open in the first quarter of 2019. Once construction is complete, Dorman will relocate its existing Portland operations to the new facility. The new 53-acre site also allows for further growth in the future.
“We look forward to the expansion and new innovations this investment will allow us to bring to our customers, and the economic development it will bring to the counties supporting our Portland, TN, operation,” said Matt Barton, President of Dorman Products. “With this new facility, we will continue creating high-quality jobs and delivering more high-quality parts to the automotive aftermarket.”
Dorman was founded in 1918 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Since then, it has expanded worldwide, with multiple facilities and thousands of contributors throughout North America and Asia. Dorman also recently expanded upon its global headquarters in Colmar, Pennsylvania.
The company reached $1 billion in sales in 2017.
Hiring for the new facility will begin toward the end of 2018.