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November 9, 2026
WAUSAU – Wausau Supply Company, a 100% employee-owned manufacturer and distributor of building products, is expanding its manufacturing capabilities with a new 260,000-square-foot facility in West Branch, Mich.
The project, Communications Manager Cassandra Ambrosius said, represents a capital investment of at least $41 million and will add production capacity to meet growing demand from dealers, builders, and contractors across the company’s national footprint.
She said the new facility will serve as a hub for advanced manufacturing and expand on Wausau Supply’s existing operations in West Branch, where the company currently employs 108 people.
Brian Miller, President & CEO of Wausau Supply, said the facility lets the company expand its manufacturing capabilities to meet customer demand.
“As an employee-owned company, growth like this means something different for us,” he said. “Every new job in West Branch is also a new ownership stake in our future. Michigan’s skilled workforce and the strength of the partnerships we’ve built there gave us the confidence to invest for the long term.”
Ambrosius said Wausau Supply – which has been employee-owned for the past 11 years – is “super excited” about the growth the company is experiencing, including the expansion in the Lower Peninsula of Michigan.
“Being able to see the growth and development of our organization, it’s a great time for our company,” she said. “We’re always exploring what’s new, what’s next, how do we serve our customers better, and how do we make work-life balance for our employees better? We’re always looking at what we can do to move the company forward.”
In celebrating its 80 years as an organization in 2027, Ambrosius said the West Branch expansion project is expected to be completed sometime next year.
“It’s the perfect way to celebrate 80 years as a company.”
The project is supported by a $575,000 performance-based grant through the Michigan Business Development Program.
The remainder of the investment, Ambrosius said, will come from Wausau Supply.
“We are very fortunate to work for an organization that is always expanding what we can make possible,” she said. “We’re excited to bring the jobs and the economic impact that comes with it. We think Michigan is a great place to be, so we’re excited to see what these new jobs will add to that community.”
With an additional 92 jobs expected once the expansion is complete, Ambrosius said Wausau Supply is shooting for late summer or early fall for completion – although construction timelines can fluctuate.
“The situation is fluid, but we’re hoping to have an open house in Michigan once the expansion is complete, along with a big celebration in Schofield for our 80th.”
While the new facility will help in Wausau Supply’s overall manufacturing process, Ambrosius said the company is “not quite ready” to disclose what will be manufactured in West Branch.
“We will obviously be able to output more product from our manufacturing lines.”
Other possibilities
Ambrosius said Wausau Supply evaluated several locations for the expansion, including sites in Canada and at its Wisconsin headquarters, before selecting West Branch for its skilled workforce and strong regional partnerships in talent and recruitment.
“We have a longstanding history in West Branch with our Taylor [Entrance Systems] facility,” she said. “Wausau Supply acquired them probably about 20 years ago. They have a 100-plus-year history in West Branch, so they have a very dedicated clientele base as well.”
The first step in the new expansion into Michigan actually came last fall, Ambrosius said.
She said before the 110,000-square-foot distribution facility in West Branch was built last fall, Wausau Supply’s previously closest distribution center was in Wisconsin.
“By building that distribution facility, it allowed us to service the Midwest better,” Ambrosius said. “The new 260,000-square-foot expansion will sit right next to it, so it will be a very large campus altogether. You could also say that was a factor; we had the space for an expansion. We also have a great relationship with West Branch leaders and county and state leaders. When it came down to it, it felt like a natural fit.”
More growth coming
The investment, Ambrosius said, is the latest step in a period of sustained growth for Wausau Supply.
The company now operates more than 20 distribution centers and six manufacturing facilities.
“We have already started launching into parts of Texas, so our footprint is growing there this year,” Ambrosius said. “Earlier this year, we also announced a new distribution into the Northeast region. We currently operate in those regions through a drop-and-hook system.”
A drop-and-hook system is a trucking and logistics method that allows drivers to save time by dropping off a loaded trailer at a facility and hooking up to another trailer that is ready to go, rather than waiting for their trailer to be unloaded or loaded.
“The drop-and-hook system allows us to service parts of the country where we might not have a brick-and-mortar yet,” Ambrosius said. “It allows us to test the waters of that environment to see if it’s something sustainable for us before we dive into a lease term. If it’s a good fit, then longer term, we’ll do a build.”
With more growth on the horizon, Ambrosius said investment doesn’t always come in the form of new building projects.
“Sometimes it’s simply about reinvesting in the infrastructure we currently have,” she said. “We’re in the process of moving our Murfreesboro, Tenn. location to a new building that is larger, allows us to service more customers, more product, and more offerings at one time. We’re really excited to invest in our people who work where we have brick-and-mortar locations. It’s not all about just focusing on growing as fast as possible, but making sure we’re taking care of our people along the way.”
In all, Wausau Supply serves about 40 states through its distribution facilities and centers.
“We’re continuing to grow from the Midwest out, knowing that our roots are obviously here in Wisconsin,” Ambrosius said.
About Wausau Supply Company
Founded in 1947 and headquartered in Schofield, Wausau Supply is a 100% employee-owned manufacturer and distributor of premier building products.
Wausau Supply’s proprietary brands include Diamond Kote Siding Systems, ChamClad, Waudena Entrance Systems, and Taylor Entrance Systems.
With distribution facilities spanning from the Pacific West Coast to the Upper East Coast, Ambrosius said Wausau Supply is committed to delivering quality building solutions and strong customer partnerships across the country.
For more information, visit wausausupply.com.
