At a groundbreaking ceremony for Fibrosan at the MEC Smart Park in Cassopolis, Mich. Tuesday (June 30), the Izmir,Turkey-based company stated the new $16.8 million manufacturing facility is the first fiberglass manufacturing facility the company has ever established outside of Turkey since it was founded in 1983.
Company officials stated that, as a multinational team, Fibrosan is committed to supplying fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) to its partners in the RV, automotive Industry and construction industries by delivering premium-quality glass reinforced plastic solutions that combine strength, innovation and operational excellence.
The new Cassopolis facility, they said, brings Fibrosan’s manufacturing closer to the North American markets it serves, enabling just-in-time delivery, reducing supply chain exposure, and supporting competitive, predictable pricing for its customers.
Anticipated to become operational in March 2027, the facility will initially create 35 full-time positions across manufacturing, engineering, logistics and operations. A future Phase II expansion will likely triple production capacity, underscoring Fibrosan’s long-term commitment to the region and its customers.
“This facility is not the result of a decision we made recently,” said Fibrosan CEO Erim Yucel. “It is the result of a journey that started more than 20 years ago. We are proud to bring manufacturing closer to our customers, create opportunities in this community, and build a long-term sustainable future in North America.”
Yucel recounted to those gathered for the groundbreaking that when he was as a young man in college in California, he traveled to the National RV Trade Show in Louisville, Ky., where he saw the many uses of fiberglass. Now, it has come full circle with this new plant serving the RV industry in the Midwest.
Emilie LaGrow, Village Manager for Cassopolis, Mich, presided over the groundbreaking ceremony and shared the story of how a contingent from her village of just 1,700 people, traveled to the Fibrosan headquarters in Turkey. Something “just clicked” with her group and the Yucel family, she said, and that breaking bread together then eventually led to the ground breaking.
Airxcel brand Vixen Composites, has had a partnership with Fibrosan since 2016. Fibrosan supplies its products to Vixen Composites, which then distributes and integrates into OEM composite sandwich panels for the North American RV industry.
After the presentations and groundbreaking ceremony, RVBusiness caught up with Chuck Olson, the director of purchasing for Airxcel Divisions Dicor, Vixen Composites and InVision, about how the new Fibrosan facility in Cassopolis will impact the RV industry in the region as a whole.
“Better service to our customers is going to be primary,” stated Olson. “It’s going to be way better here than when they were on the other side of the pond. Now we will have product development with Fibrosan right in our backyard. We will have instant feedback, quicker prototypes, accelerated production turns and better connections and technical support.”
“They do a full line of products too,” added Olson. “From an entry level product that might go on a travel trailer, up to high-end, high-gloss Class A motorhome exteriors, they handle a complete line. Now they can continue to grow their product line and innovate to the demand of the RV industry. I think we have over a dozen of their products in our mix. The widths they can produce is the big deal. The high-end fifth-wheels can require width of up to 117 inches and these guys can go way beyond. And length is only limited by the size of their facility.”
Founded in 1983 as part of the family-owned Yücel Group, Fibrosan is a global manufacturer of fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) laminates and composite solutions. Building on a business tradition that dates back to 1949, Fibrosan serves customers in more than 65 countries across the RV, commercial vehicle, construction, and industrial sectors. The company employs more than 450 people and operates with a strong focus on innovation, quality, and long-term customer partnerships.
The facility will be located at MEC Smart Park, Southwest Michigan Advanced Research & Technology (SMART) Park serves as a center for technology and industry nestled in rural Cassopolis, Mich. The SMART Park sits on roughly 400 acres adjacent to Midwest Energy & Communications (MEC), the founders of the park. MEC is an electric cooperative, fiber internet provider, and propane provider serving over 35,000 businesses and residents in rural southwest and southeast Michigan and portions of northern Indiana and northwest Ohio.
