West Allis medical compression garment manufacturer Solaris Inc. plans to move to a new facility in Milwaukee’s Menomonee Valley Industrial Center.
The company plans to build a 67,200-square-foot building on a site in the northwest corner of the industrial center. Interstate Partners and Korb Tredo Architects are completing the project, which is expected to be completed in July 2014.
Solaris’ facility will house its office, development and manufacturing space, as well as space for two small start-up companies the company plans to host and assist for free.
The company has 53 employees, and plans to add 30 more in the next two years. Its growth is driven by existing market and new market expansion.
A growth rate of 650 percent over the last seven years has propelled Solaris to three Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce Future 50 awards and two INC 500|5000 appearances.
“We have received tremendous support from the community of West Allis, which is where Solaris was located for the past several years. We have considered a variety of options for new facilities, and the Menomonee Valley emerged as the best solution for our co-workers,” said Kyle Weatherly, president of Solaris. “Solaris is poised for continued growth, and we are pleased the company’s future will be centered in southeastern Wisconsin. We would particularly like to thank the City of Milwaukee, City of West Allis, MEDC and MMAC who have all been great partners as Solaris has expanded.”
The company’s global distribution network includes hospitals, distributors and durable medical equipment companies. Solaris is a market leader in lymphedema treatment products.
“Solaris will be a great addition to the Menomonee Valley Industrial Center,” said Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett. “The people who make Solaris a success – including the executives, the designers, the fabricators and the marketing team – will find the Menomonee Valley is a great place to grow.”
Just two of the 60 acres in the Menomonee Valley Industrial Center will be vacant following the deal, said Jeff Fleming, Department of City Development spokesman. Rishi Tea also recently announced plans to build a headquarters in the center.
The Solaris deal has not been finalized. The Redevelopment Authority of the City of Milwaukee meets in the next few weeks and then the Milwaukee Common Council also has to approve the arrangement when it meets in September, Fleming said.
