Large Elmhurst Employer Plans Big Expansion; More Workers Expected

ELMHURST, IL – One of Elmhurst's largest employers is planning a major expansion, allowing hundreds more employees to be on site, the firm said.

In its proposal, McMaster-Carr, an industrial equipment supplier at 600 County Line Road, stated that it has outgrown its existing office and parking capacity.

The company said it would invest in an office renovation and parking deck expansion to grow its employee base.

On Monday, the firm is presenting its concept to an Elmhurst City Council committee.

When the projects are complete, McMaster-Carr said it will have a capacity for 1,900 employees.

"This number includes the expected increase of 450 office employees that will be able to work onsite in Elmhurst," the company said in its proposal. "Most of our employee growth in the 2020s has focused on well-compensated office roles."

McMaster-Carr said its site has constraints. It said the Arlington Reservoir is the fastest and most cost-effective way to support more employees coming into the office.

The company plans to build a parking deck similar to the current one on top of the reservoir. It also said it would add 1½ times the amount that the reservoir now holds.

McMaster-Carr said more than 100 McMaster-Carr employees and retirees live in Elmhurst. It also said 125 employees use the Elmhurst train station to commute.

"You can see the McMaster-Carr shuttles all around town," the company said.

McMaster-Carr has been expanding its Elmhurst operation for decades. The last major project was in 2021, when McMaster-Carr built a warehouse addition.

The company has regional headquarters operations in New Jersey, Ohio, Georgia and California. Later this year, it plans to open a new one in Fort Worth, Texas.

It said its product offering consists of more than 700,000 unique parts. Its customer service operation is available around the clock.

The company was founded in 1901. Its headquarters moved to Elmhurst in 1978.