LOXLEY — Kaishan Compressor USA celebrated the completion of its $11 million expansion in Loxley on Tuesday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and open house, marking a milestone in the company’s long-term U.S. growth strategy.

Dave George, president of Kaishan USA, said the expansion reflects a larger effort to bring more manufacturing back to the United States.

“Our long-term strategy is to grow our products, our product base here in the Americas by manufacturing and bringing more manufacturing back into the United States instead of buying components from outside the United States,” he said. “So it’s really what they call reshoring jobs, manufacturing jobs back here.”

The project doubles the size of Kaishan’s 65,000-square-foot facility locally, adding capacity for oil-injected and oil-free airend production, rotor manufacturing and product testing. It also expands warehouse space to streamline aftermarket support and shipments, while creating new office areas, breakrooms and conference and training rooms.

George said the upgrades also give research and development a dedicated space for the first time, separate from the main production floor. That separation, he said, will allow engineers to test products without disrupting daily operations, “helping us do things faster, more direct, without causing upsets in our normal daily business.”

The Loxley facility is Kaishan’s only U.S. manufacturing site and serves customers across the Americas. Additional plants in China supply Asia, while a new facility under construction in Turkey will serve Europe and the Middle East.

CEO Keith Schumacher said the investment reflects Kaishan’s broader vision.

“This expansion is more than just square footage — it’s a commitment to our customers, our employees and the Loxley community,” he said. “We’re excited to showcase our growth and share the next chapter of Kaishan USA with our partners and friends.”

As part of its growth, Kaishan expects to create more than 50 new jobs over the next five years, ranging from warehouse roles and office staff to high-tech machining positions.

Loxley Mayor Richard Teal said the expansion represents more than just new space.

“Kaishan’s expansion is a great example of the kind of growth we want to see in Loxley,” he said. “They’re bringing high-quality jobs, innovation and long-term investment to our community.”

That local impact, leaders say, expands beyond city limits. The project reflects Baldwin County’s growing reputation as a hub for advanced manufacturing, where global companies find both a skilled workforce and the infrastructure to support long-term growth.

“Kaishan’s expansion is a big win for Baldwin County,” said Lee Lawson, president and CEO of the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance. “This investment reinforces the strength of our workforce and business climate, and we’re proud to partner in Kaishan’s growth story here in Loxley.”

Gabriella Chavez is a Report for America corps member who writes about growth and development in Baldwin County and our natural spaces for Gulf Coast Media. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep her writing stories like this one; please consider making a tax-deductible gift of any amount today by visiting https://tinyurl.com/yaf8yf5n.