GREEN BAY, WI — KI announced last week it will expand production at its Bonduel, WI-based plant, adding 30 to 45 jobs within the next two years.

According to the Green Bay Press Gazette, the institutional, educational and healthcare furnishings manufacturer is receiving $75,000 in financing from the city of Bonduel.

“We are very excited to create new jobs in the community, expand our production capabilities and continue to be a viable part of the community,” said KI CEO Dick Resch in a statement. Production at the Bonduel plant was last expanded in 2006, when KI added high pressure laminates and tabletops to the manufacturing lineup.

This latest expansion news follows an announcement earlier this month by KI that it will lay off a total of 70 workers with the closing of its Pontotoc, MS, facility, and the conversion of its Tupelo, MS, facility to a distribution warehouse. Work from the Pontotoc plant will be shifted to Bonduel. The company also has facilities in Green Bay, Fort Atkinson and Manitowoc, WI, as well as High Point, NC, and Pembroke, ON.

In September, KI acquired Sebel Furniture Limited from GWA Group Ltd. Sebel is a leading manufacturer and supplier of educational furniture in Australia with operations in New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Hong Kong. Sebel operates as a standalone division of KI.

KI also owns three subsidiaries: AWP Wood Products Inc., a manufacturer of architectural wood doors for the contract industry; Pallas Textiles; and Spacesaver, which manufactures mobile storage systems for office, institutional and industrial applicaitons.