OPEN HOUSE – Bryan Marks, the owner of Great Lakes Fusion and Exotic Concrete Creations, presented his two new businesses, Great Lakes Ready Mix and Great Lakes Fabricating and Machining, at an open house on Tuesday, Dec. 8, in Vernon Township. The open house was in the fabricating and machining shop, which occupies the building that formerly housed Co-Op Machine and Tool facility, 7665 E. M-71.
The fabricating and machine shop opened in the beginning of October, while the Ready Mix facility, which utilizes the batch plant space that formerly housed concrete pipe manufacturer Premarc Corporation, opened on Sept. 11. Marks has been supplying ready mix concrete from the building since September and has hired seven new employees, with plans to at least double that number in 2016.
The fabricating and machining shop specializes in the custom fabrication of metals and plastics and also has the capacity to produce high production parts. The business is a supplier of the “Big Three” automakers and will look to service customers across the state and into Canada as the shop’s production capabilities grow.
While Marks is “extremely excited” about his two new businesses, he is also looking forward to teaming with local school districts to offer job shadowing and co-op opportunities. In, fact, he has already spoken with Corunna High School metals teacher Jared Andres about the possibilities.
Being a custom fabrication facility, Great Lakes Fabricating and Machining is limited in its capabilities only by its imagination. If it can be made of metal or plastic, there is a good chance it can be made there.
Marks has re-hired several Co-Op employees to work at the fabricating and machine shop and is thankful that he can lean on that experience. “We have some great people working for us and we could not do this without them,” said Marks. (Independent Photo/GRAHAM STURGEON)
