APA Solar, a solar racking manufacturer based in Ridgeville Corners, Ohio, will build a new headquarters at that location and also open a new manufacturing facility in Williams County.
Credit: APA Solar
The company will invest $19.5 million and hire 133 people as part of the expansion. Construction for the new 30,000 sq-ft headquarters will begin soon, with completion expected in early 2026.
APA Solar was founded in 2008 as a spin-off of its automotive parent company, Alex Products. The company now has more than 200 employees, having established itself as one of the largest fixed-tilt racking manufacturers in the United States.
“The renewable energy industry is growing rapidly and APA continues to grow with it,” said Josh Von Deylen, CEO, APA Solar. “APA has been in business 17 years and is one of the top manufacturers in the solar racking hardware space. Northwest Ohio has been a great location for APA due to the large amount of local manufacturing to help support our supply chain, along with great skilled employees.”
The company has made numerous investments over the years into its Northwest Ohio operations. Two years ago, APA Solar invested more than $10 million to upgrade, expand and modernize its Henry County facility, a project which led to the addition of 110 new jobs. That expansion included construction of a state-of-the-art engineering complex.
“We understand the value Northwest Ohio offers our company,” Von Deylen said. “This region has a strong work ethic with much talent. We enjoy being part of the community we live and work in.”
The company collaborated with local, regional and state economic development groups in moving the project forward, including JobsOhio, the Regional Growth Partnership, Henry County Community Improvement Corporation and Williams County Economic Development Corporation.
“APA Solar’s investment in people and capital strengthens Ohio’s reputation as a national leader in our nation’s production supply chain,” said J.P. Nauseef, JobsOhio president and CEO. “As a homegrown company, APA Solar’s decision to expand in Northwest Ohio shows how our state’s skilled workforce, supportive manufacturing environment, and strong business climate converge to create opportunities for long-term success.”
Construction on the new headquarters will begin later this year. The company is expected to begin operations in Bryan this summer.
News item from the Regional Growth Partnership
