“We’ve grown exponentially since we moved to Hamilton, more than tripling our production and capacity,” she said. “But the industry has changed as well, and we wanted to take the opportunity to put world-class glass automation and manufacturing into the facility which takes additional space, additional electricity.”
When Vinylmax moved to Hamilton, there were about 65 employees. Now, it has more than 300 with plans to add 150 more over the course of the next few years, Doerger-Roberts said. That’s why the company wanted to stay in Hamilton, she said.
“There was a good population base, and we felt we could find good manufacturing employees who were interested in staying and being a part of their local community.”
Credit: TVHamilton
Credit: TVHamilton
Hamilton Economic Development Director Jody Gunderson said the city and Vinylmax had the same objectives, which were to have it stay in the city and grow the business.
“It’s a complement to a city that a company wants to expand,” he said. “That just means they’re happy doing business in the community. Their family members have just been fantastic to work with.”
Gunderson said Vinylmax also benefits from a property tax abatement and a discount on the adjacent land the city owned. The project also received a job-creation tax credit from the Ohio Tax Credit Authority in 2021 for this expansion project.
Doerger-Roberts said the family operated company’s core values have remained unchanged over the four-plus decades in business.
“We are dedicated to producing windows and doors that our customers can trust and love. Our family’s legacy is built on the belief that every home deserves the best, and this expansion allows us to continue fulfilling that promise,” she said.
Greater Hamilton Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Dan Bates said the company’s limit is endless because of Doerger-Roberts as Vinylmax’s top executive, calling her a “multifaceted talent” and “Renaissance woman” who is leading the family-focused business.
“She is dedicated to her family, a talented artist, visionary thinker and outstanding leader in the industry,” he said.
Within the expansion is 20,000 square feet of space for employee welfare, which Doerger-Roberts said includes improved break facilities, quiet spaces, collaboration spaces and a world tech, high-tech conference center for both customers and employees for training.
“Our hope is always that when an employee comes to work at Vinylmax that it’s the last new job that they’ll ever have,” she said. “We want people to be able to come here and stay here and have a career here, and Hamilton’s a great place to do that.”
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