After nearly four decades in Worcester, International Ceramic Engineering has moved to Lancaster where the manufacturer has more than doubled its square footage.
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After nearly four decades in Worcester, International Ceramic Engineering has moved to Lancaster where the manufacturer has more than doubled its square footage.
Now located at 851 Sterling Road, the move consolidated its former operations at Brooks Street and Barber Avenue in Worcester, bringing all manufacturing under one roof, said Craig Bovaird, president of International Ceramic.
Founded in 1987, International Ceramic manufactures ceramic and plastic parts, including rods, tubes, and screws. The company employs about 60 workers and is looking to hire for more roles, including a mechanical inspector and customer service representative.
The move to Lancaster was completed in December. Bovaird owns the building at 851 Sterling Road, and the company decided to relocate after one of his industrial tenants declared bankruptcy, opening the space for International Ceramic. The manufacturer now occupies 25,000 square feet, up from a combined 10,000 square feet in Worcester.
“This is a major league upgrade,” said Bovaird.
The move included extensive renovations to the facility’s infrastructure and operational capabilities. The site’s floors and walls were repainted, an upgraded lighting system was installed, and an advanced dust collection system was added.
Additionally, the new space offers a major electrical capacity upgrade. International Ceramic now has access to 1,250 amps of service, more than four times the 400 amps at the manufacturer’s previous buildings. The upgrade allows the company to operate its kilns throughout the week, instead of just on the weekends.
The move “gave us an opportunity to design the layout of the building specifically for our manufacturing process, and here we are,” Bovaird said.
Bovaird and two of his partners acquired International Ceramic in April 2024, purchasing the business from two of its founding owners, Jay and Andy Higgins, according to a May 2024 press release.
Mica Kanner-Mascolo is a staff writer at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the healthcare, manufacturing, and higher education industries.
