Cardinal Glass Industries, the Eden Prairie, Minn.-based glass company that operates float glass and fabrication facilities around the country, is expanding in Oklahoma. Its Durant, Okla., float glass location is undergoing an expansion that includes the installation of a new tempering furnace, as well as additional square footage.

The Durant facility, which primarily serves the residential market, currently operates in more than 700,000 square feet, and is getting an additional 70,000 square feet. The plant also recently installed a new Glasstech tempering oven.

According to plant manager Shaun Banner, the need for expansion and new equipment is due to the growing housing market, which has increased the demand for tempered glass. He says the addition of the new tempering line will double the plant’s current tempering capacity. Banner says at this time they are not considering any additional equipment additions.

The new line is expected to start up in mid-June, with full production in July. The company also plans to hire a number of production technicians in response to the expansion.

Cardinal has more than 7,000 employees at 37 manufacturing locations around the United States.