C.R. Onsrud Kicks Off $17M Expansion, Bringing 100 Jobs to Troutman

Construction began this week on C.R. Onsrud's $17 million expansion project in Iredell County, North Carolina. The project will create 100 new jobs as crews build an 83,000-square-foot addition to the existing facility.

When finished, the expanded facility will employ over 300 people in a sprawling 250,000-square-foot space. This is their second big expansion since 2016 when they opened their state-of-the-art manufacturing facility.

Thursday's ribbon-cutting brought hundreds of people to watch equipment demonstrations and listen to presentations about new technology. Attendees got to see the facility's capabilities firsthand.

The company's history goes back to 1915. That year, Oscar Onsrud and his son Rudolph pioneered the first air-powered, high-speed spindle — a breakthrough for machine tools.

Operating from North Carolina, they make advanced machines that cut and shape materials using computer control. Their newest product, the Q-Series 5-Axis CNC Machine, recently earned top honors, winning NC's Coolest Thing Made with 10% of votes cast.

This growth continues their long track record of success in Troutman. The facility specializes in making custom equipment for businesses that need precise cuts and shapes in their production.

“This expansion enables us to house more staff to build more CNC machines, bigger machines, and to build them faster,” CEO Tom Onsrud said to Iredellfreenews.com.

New employees will join the experienced team that builds industrial tools and machinery. These new jobs will add significantly to the county's skilled workforce.

Local leaders see this expansion as a huge win for Troutman's economy. It demonstrates how small-town manufacturing continues to succeed across North Carolina, even as technology rapidly evolves.