A manufacturing facility recently opened its doors in Paulding County, Ohio after being in Bryan for several years. The opportunity presented itself as Paulding County Economic Development director, Tim Copsey, intrigued the owners and persuaded the company, ALG Health+, to relocate to the US 24 opportunity zone.
“Once the team at ALG Health announced the purchase of the Dana Weatherhead building, and got their renovations complete and production equipment and office space established, we met with their team and toured the facility. The enhancements and improvements they have made put new life into the building. We are now working with the Patriot Lines railroad team, and other area economic development directors, to see if there is opportunity to fill the remaining open warehouse space and the potential to grow the facility down the road.” stated Copsey.
According to plant manager, Douglas Soper, the facility that was formerly located in an 80,000 square foot location of the Spangler Candy factory had a lease that was set to expire and not able to renew with business’s anticipated growth. The developing company had to look elsewhere. Soper searched all over Northwest Ohio and soon was drawn to the Antwerp area because of the size of the 2004 shuttered Dana plant being offered by Mark Greenwood of North American Reel Company.
Since the deal was made, ALG Health worked overtime to build inventory before they moved; being down for a couple of months while moving heavy equipment could be detrimental for any business if there is no product to ship.
The COVID pandemic provided an opportunity for the business owner to make ALG a front runner in the PPE business, particularly in masks. They started to confront the mask shortages America in the early days of the COVID pandemic, and manufacturers were struggling to meet the increased demand. ALG began production quickly and increased capacity while at the same time meeting the demands set forth by federal and state governments.
There are a variety of masks that are being produced right here in Northwest Ohio, including the Patriot respirator masks and the Patriot foldable masks. Each mask including respirators, have their purpose what they are best suited for. ALG Health serves the healthcare industry from nursing care and assisted living to hospitals and schools. They can negotiate contracts for Group Purchasing Organizations and state departments of health. Their products are entirely manufactured in Ohio from globally sourced materials.
Mr. Soper stated they have nationwide sales with their largest buyers on the east and west coasts. Last year they sold over 21,000,000 pieces. Even with the 2 month shutdown for moving, the company is on track to outpace last year’s sales. When asked if they had more than one plant, the answer was, “no”. They were intending to, but now they have the space to keep all of the manufacturing and distribution in one location, saving the hassle and expense of multiple locations and regulations.
ALG Health is looking to expand in more ways than just in their machines. They are in talks with the local rail line to add in a line to the building, which should be minimal cost as the line is currently very close to the facility.
Copsey praised the company saying, “ALG Health is yet another positive for Paulding County and the Antwerp community. By bringing a new business and employment opportunities into the county, and filling an empty space in an existing building, this is a win-win.“
The company is searching for good workers to help fill this need of making necessary healthcare products. For more information stop in at the office located at 5278 CR 424, Antwerp, OH or visit their website at https://www.alg-health.com
