TIFFIN — Laminate panel maker Lam-Tech is spending $1.2 million to add on to its Tiffin facility and purchase equipment to expand its product line into fully fabricated retail store displays.

“We think this is the time,” Chief Executive Officer Fred Zoeller said. “The retailers were having a good Christmas, the overall economy is looking to be up. With our added capacity and our added capabilities now, we think this can be very growth-oriented and round our product mix out.”

The company, which Mr. Zoeller co-founded in 1985, makes wood and other laminate components for furniture, kitchen cabinets, and store displays.

Company officials believe they can fill a niche need by expanding into full production of custom-order laminate store displays.

Lam-Tech’s furniture and cabinet businesses will remain component only.

Typically, Mr. Zoeller said, stores like to revamp display arrangements every five years. Because of the recession, many stores put off those investments, he said.

“You have an influx of store remodeling that’s going on. With that being said, we enhanced our capabilities and added some features and equipment that allow us to produce certain types of products that tend to be more of the modern store fixture look,” Mr. Zoeller said.

Officials expect to break ground for the 25,000-square-foot addition in late March or early April, with completion expected sometime in June.

The project is expected to create 15 to 20 jobs.

Rich Focht, president and CEO of Seneca Industrial and Economic Development Corp., said, “He [Mr. Zoeller] thinks that this latest edition is really going to position the company for some significant growth in the next two to five years.”

Mr. Focht said Lam-Tech has done well at taking advantage of opportunities even in a down economy.

Mr. Zoeller said no tax credits or development grants were given to the project.

“We try to do things on our own here,” he said. “We’ve been very fortunate through the years that we haven’t had the downturn that so many other people have seen. We try to live within our means and our capability and do what we can afford to do ourselves.”

In addition to its manufacturing space in Tiffin, Lam-Tech has plants in Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.

Mr. Zoeller is running for Seneca County commissioner and will face off in the Republican primary against Kevin R. Carrigan.

The winner will run against incumbent Democrat Ben Nutter.

Contact Tyrel Linkhorn at: tlinkhorn@theblade.com or 419-724-6134.