Lake Zurich manufacturer plans major warehouse expansion

An automotive industry parts manufacturer has plans for an addition that would quintuple the size of a Lake Zurich warehouse and office building.

Termax Corp. proposes to build an 80,000-square-foot warehouse to expand its facility in an industrial park at 200 Telser Road near Route 22. If constructed, Termax's office and warehouse operation would go from roughly 20,000 to 100,000 square feet.

Engineering and production of metal and plastic fasteners occurs in another Termax facility on Rose Road in the industrial complex. Termax's small parts typically are used to hold door panels onto the frame of a car.

"The automobile industry is booming," Termax Chief Financial Officer John Hoeksema said Monday after an informal presentation of the company's expansion plan to the Lake Zurich village board.

Kelly Sheehan of Flex Construction Corp. in Lake Zurich said Termax intends to build on roughly 6 acres adjacent to the Telser Road site. A farmhouse and three buildings would be demolished to accommodate Termax's new structure.

"The new expansion will be consistent with other adjacent industrial buildings," Sheehan told the village board.

Termax's finished products would be stored in the new warehouse and shipped from a six-bay dock area on the south end of the structure.

In 2004, Termax used a $4 million state incentive to combine operations in Lake Zurich after having facilities in Schaumburg, Rolling Meadows and Mundelein. The company brought 120 jobs to Lake Zurich.

Termax started with a 78,000-square-foot facility on Rose Road and followed with a 38,000-square-foot addition in 2011.

Village board trustees agreed Monday night that Termax's proposal to expand the Telser Road warehouse by 80,000 square feet is worthy of entering the official approval process. Termax is seeking village approval to change a zoning classification from residential to industrial on the site that would be used for the expansion.

Termax isn't the only company expanding in the Lake Zurich industrial park. For example, Bimbo Bakeries USA plans a 20,000-square-foot warehouse and distribution building just north at 845 Telser Road.

"It's hustle and bustle during the day," Sheehan said of the park.