Outdoor Lifestyle has outgrown its Gastonia facility and acquired a building in nearby Stanley to increase production of its all-aluminum chairs, tables and other furnishings.

Company President Fred Ilse attributes the South-African-owned firm’s growth to its quick turnaround after receiving orders from customers. "We keep all our furniture components in stock. When an order comes in, we pull the components and send through our powder coating line for whatever finishes the customers want. We can full special orders in under three weeks, where most company take twice as long or more."

The new facility in downtown Stanley was formerly owned by Gaston County Dyeing Machinery. Ilse expects employment to grow from 35 to 55 over the next 18 months and is already half there.

Outdoor Lifestyle sells only through specialty retailers and supplies many hotels, restaurants and retirement homes. Because the company offers a five-year warranty on its products, it uses only select dealers who can help stand behind that warranty, Ilse said.

"We’re delighted to have Outdoor Lifestyles in Stanley," said Interim Town Manager Reva Brasell. "They make a wonderful upscale product and are expanding our economic base as well. We’re also pleased that they’ve made an adaptive new use of an underutilized building in our downtown."