MIFAB hosted a groundbreaking ceremony in celebration of a 68,000-square-foot building expansion to its Chicago headquarters on Tuesday, Aug. 6. The expansion is expected to be completed by the end of the year, increasing the building's size from 60,000 square feet to 128,000 square feet. 

In a speech to the ceremony's attendees, MIFAB President Michael Whiteside said the new square footage would allow the company to focus on the expansion of three key product initiatives: the BEECO product line, including an in-house test facility; plastic grease interceptors, including the SuperMax; and Quick Hub Couplings. 

While the expansion presents many exciting opportunities for MIFAB's future, Whiteside also took time during the ceremony to reflect on the company's past. 

"Fourteen years ago, MIFAB moved to this site from Toronto, Canada," he said. "We have received a warm welcome from Alderman Austin’s office and from the city of Chicago."

In addition to Alderman Carrie Austin, Whiteside continued to personally thank those who have made MIFAB's success possible over the years, including his wife, Justine; Alderman Austin's Chief of Staff Chester Wilson Jr.; Ed Lewis of the Chicago Department of Planning and Development; and several long-term MIFAB employees. 

"We have grown from 40 people when we moved here to 70," said Whiteside. "We have added a significant manufacturing operation in this building that did not exist when we first moved here. We have added six new product lines to our company. This would all not be possible without the team sprit that we have at MIFAB, the support of Alderman Austin’s office, and the Charles Hall Construction team. Thank you very much for being here to celebrate this moment with us."