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Trimak Building Systems Inc., one of the nation’s largest metal building construction companies, relocated its headquarters to Lakeland this month. Now, they’re increasing staff.
“We’ve hired 18 to 20 people over the past month, as we’ve made the push to get into this new facility,” said Trimak President Kenny McIntosh, adding he currently has about 220 employees.
In mid-August, the company moved its offices and manufacturing operations into a new industrial park at 4350 County Line Road near Lakeland Linder International Airport. The move followed a two-year development process that began when Trimak acquired the 20-acre site in April 2024 for $3.1 million.
McIntosh expects Trimak to hire dozens more engineers, detailers, and machine operators in the coming months, though he did not provide a specific hiring target. Some positions require specialized equipment certifications, with training available through Trimak and its partners.
Current openings are posted on Indeed, and McIntosh said the company plans to add a jobs page on its website.
Local investment
Trimak’s new Lakeland facility represents an estimated $45 million investment, according to the Lakeland Economic Development Council.
In February, Lakeland’s City Commission approved a $400,000 economic incentive package contingent on Trimak creating 50 new jobs at its Lakeland facility with an average annual wage of at least $100,000. The company received its certificate of occupancy Aug. 17, allowing it to request disbursement of the funds.
Trimak plans to use the money to offset water impact fees and costs related to underground electrical work and right-of-way construction.
McIntosh said the privately held company generated more than $60 million in revenue in 2025.
With crews currently working in 15 states, Trimak ranked second nationally among metal building erectors by tonnage in 2025, using 18,500 tons of metal.
Cultivating expertise
McIntosh founded Certified Industrial Maintenance, or CIM, in Plant City in 2004, and three years later moved the growing company to Mulberry.
About a decade later, Adena Construction, an Ohio-based company that had worked on Walt Disney World resorts and attractions, approached him while seeking engineering expertise in Central Florida.
By then, CIM had developed a full-service fabrication shop run by a workforce of about 100 that included mechanics and superintendents. “I had everything that they needed locally,” he said.
In 2019, McIntosh sold CIM to Adena while retaining its pre-engineered metal building division, which he refocused as Trimak Building Systems. McIntosh relocated Trimak to a former contractor site in Plant City.
New vision, new challenges
When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted material supplies, Trimak began producing components such as steel trim and wall panels in-house to avoid supply delays and keep crews working, McIntosh said.
Trimak acquired trim cutters and panel roll-forming machines, reducing costs and allowing the company to complete more of its projects without relying on outside suppliers.
“We realized there was a huge void in the market,” he said.
McIntosh said pre-engineered metal buildings reduce construction costs and timelines while meeting nearly any building requirements. Trimak is working to expand its capabilities to meet Miami-Dade County’s code. “If you can build in Miami-Dade, you can build anywhere,” he said.
Trimak now constructs about 250 buildings annually. Its projects include two million square feet at the World Equestrian Center in Ocala, as well as gymnasiums, churches, airplane hangars, and retail establishments including more than 3,000 Dollar General stores.
Room to grow
Eight additional custom heavy machines are expected at the Lakeland facility, which McIntosh said provides room to expand beyond the company’s former Plant City site.
McIntosh said the location near the airport is strategic — both because Trimak is constructing multiple aircraft hangars and because its employees frequently travel to projects in other states.
McIntosh found the plot of land early in 2024. He saw former owner Patsy Lynn Prosch, 80, checking her mail, and he pulled over to introduce himself. “I started talking to her, and she invited me in for a glass of sweet tea,” he said.
Two weeks later, Trimak bought the property from the Prosch Family Trust, which had owned it for 55 years.
“We’re happy to be here in Polk County, and we feel confident that we’re going to be here for a long time,” McIntosh said. “We’ve got room to grow.”
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