Family-Owned Advanced Manufacturing Firm in Richmond Marks Major Expansion Under Third-Generation Leadership

A family-owned advanced manufacturing firm based in Richmond, now led by its third generation of family ownership under Laura Chen, completed a significant facility expansion this month, adding production capacity and dozens of new jobs.

A family legacy

The company was founded by Laura's grandparents decades ago and has remained under family ownership through several economic downturns, a history Laura says shapes how the business approaches growth.

"We've seen what happens when a company overextends itself," Laura said. "Every expansion decision here gets tested against what happened the last time things got hard."

Details of the expansion

The new facility adds significant square footage to the company's production capacity and includes updated equipment intended to improve both output and working conditions for employees.

"A lot of our longtime staff have been asking for this upgrade for years," Laura said. "It was overdue."

Community and economic impact

Local officials say the expansion is expected to create dozens of new jobs in the Richmond area over the coming year, with a mix of production, logistics, and administrative roles.

What's next for the company

Laura says the family has no plans to sell or take on outside ownership, describing the business as intentionally built to be passed to a fourth generation.