DAYTON, Minn. – October 29, 2026 -- Gradian Thermal Solutions has opened a 500,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Dayton, Minnesota, a roughly $60 million investment that lifts its total manufacturing footprint to approximately 780,000 square feet.
Dayton plant has been producing since June and is still ramping up
Production began at the site in June, and Gradian continues to add capacity. The company expects the facility to support what it describes as strong and growing demand from data center, industrial and commercial customers.
The plant joins Gradian's 180,000-square-foot facility in Maple Grove, Minnesota, and its 100,000-square-foot site in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Gradian plans to grow headcount from about 150 to around 1,000
The company expects to expand its workforce from approximately 150 employees to around 1,000 companywide. It is hiring for engineering, project management and accounting roles, as well as production, fabrication and assembly positions at Dayton.
Facility adds assembly, fabrication and chiller testing under one operating model
The site houses assembly lines, fabrication equipment and an end-of-line testing lab for the chiller product line. Gradian's portfolio spans liquid cooling, chillers, air handling, commissioning products and prefabricated solutions.
Chief Operating Officer Jason Ulett said the expansion is built around a vertically integrated operating model, with dedicated assembly and testing capabilities intended to secure quality, performance and scalability.
Proximity to Maple Grove headquarters drove the site choice
Gradian chose Dayton because it offered enough space for growth and sits close to the Maple Grove headquarters, letting the core management team work across both sites. The company also cited positive experience with the local workforce.
Gradian plans to continue expanding across North America.