Aermec Breaks Ground on $15M HVAC Factory in DeKalb

Aermec North America has broken ground on a $15 million, 186,000-square-foot HVAC manufacturing facility in DeKalb, DeKalb County, Illinois. Located in the Park 88 Subdivision, the project will become the company’s first U.S. manufacturing site, with building construction expected to finish in 2027.

The Rockford Register Star reported the groundbreaking on October 13, 2026. Shaw Local’s Daily Chronicle places the ceremony on October 8, 2026, and reports that manufacturing is planned to begin in 2028.

Key Project Facts

• Project type: HVAC manufacturing facility; Aermec’s first U.S. production site.
• Location: Park 88 Subdivision, DeKalb, DeKalb County, Illinois.
• Size: 186,000 square feet, according to Shaw Local.
• Project value: $15 million.
• Owner: Aermec North America.
• Stage: Construction started; groundbreaking held October 8, 2026.
• Construction completion: Expected in 2027.
• Manufacturing start: Planned for 2028.
• Expansion capacity: The site includes land for future expansion.

186,000-Square-Foot Facility for HVAC Production

The DeKalb project establishes a U.S. production location for the Italian-based HVAC manufacturer. Chicago Construction News reports that the facility will support production of heating, ventilation and air conditioning products, along with climate control and energy management systems.

Shaw Local reports that Aermec specializes in custom HVAC solutions for applications including education, commercial buildings, healthcare and data centers. For contractors and suppliers, the relevant project category is industrial manufacturing rather than a warehouse-only development.

The Park 88 site also includes land for future expansion. Contractors evaluating the current project should distinguish the initial 186,000-square-foot facility from that longer-term expansion capacity.

Building Completion in 2027, Manufacturing Start in 2028

The October 8, 2026, groundbreaking marked the start of construction. Aermec anticipates completing the building in 2027, according to Shaw Local.

Luca Martini, managing director of Aermec North America, said manufacturing would not begin on site until the following year. That places the planned production start in 2028, separate from the building’s anticipated completion.

For firms assessing the project, those are distinct milestones: the construction target concerns delivery of the building, while the manufacturing target concerns the start of plant operations. Suppliers should keep that distinction in view when discussing delivery requirements and installation sequencing.

Construction Considerations for a Manufacturing Building

The stated scope combines a 186,000-square-foot building with an HVAC manufacturing use. That makes coordination between building systems and the owner’s production requirements an important consideration for contractors pursuing later-stage packages.

Mechanical and electrical bidders should confirm the division between base-building services and production-related requirements when reviewing their scope. The facility’s purpose also makes it important to distinguish the HVAC products Aermec will manufacture from the HVAC systems serving the building itself.

The land reserved for future expansion is another item to consider during scope review. Contractors should verify how their current work relates to the initial building and any requirements intended to accommodate later development, without treating future expansion as part of the present construction package.

Construction Trades Involved

With construction started, the project has entered its early construction phase; site preparation, foundations and structural work should be treated as underway or committed rather than as prospective open packages.

Depending on procurement progress, later-stage work could potentially remain available in the following trades:

• Mechanical systems
• HVAC installation
• Plumbing
• Electrical systems
• Fire protection
• Roofing
• Glazing
• Insulation
• Drywall
• Flooring
• Painting
• Doors and hardware

These are potential later-stage trade categories for the building type, not confirmed bid invitations or contract awards.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Aermec’s new manufacturing facility located?

The facility is in the Park 88 Subdivision in DeKalb, DeKalb County, Illinois.

How big is the Aermec project?

Shaw Local reports a 186,000-square-foot facility. The project carries a reported value of $15 million, and the site includes land for future expansion.

When will construction finish and manufacturing begin?

Aermec expects building construction to finish in 2027 and plans to begin manufacturing on site in 2028. The groundbreaking took place on October 8, 2026.

For contractors and suppliers, Aermec’s DeKalb facility is an active industrial project with separate building-completion and production-start targets. Firms pursuing later-stage systems, enclosure or finish work should focus their outreach on package status and the requirements for the initial manufacturing building.

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