Josh Cross

USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee

A California-based firearms components manufacturer plans to move its corporate offices to Gallatin and build a new 40,000-square-foot facility to expand operations.

Axem Distributing Inc. has already begun moving equipment from its headquarters and warehouse in San Diego to a 10,000-square-foot temporary location off Airport Road, according to the Gallatin Economic Development Agency.

The company, which also operates a manufacturing facility in Kentucky, expects to hire approximately 15 employees as a result of the relocation.

“(This) will allow Axem to expand manufacturing operations to keep up with demand,” CEO Mike Dowell said in a statement. “The addition of a new centralized distribution center in the mid-south will allow rapid fulfillment of orders and will cut transit times to our customer base.”

A deal to purchase property at the Gallatin Industrial Center across from Beretta’s new 156,000-square-foot U.S. manufacturing plant is in the works, according to Axem CFO and co-owner Jodi Mixa.

Beretta opened its $15 million facility in April, but its U.S. administration and executive support operations remain Maryland.

RELATED: Beretta opens gun plant in Gallatin

Construction on the company’s new facility is expected to begin within the first half of the year and will add as many as 50 jobs once it is complete.

“When (Axem) came to the area and was looking around, it was clear from our conversations that they were truly looking to not only move their company, but invest in the community over the long haul,” Gallatin Economic Development Agency Executive Director James Fenton said. “They’ve invested in some new equipment already, which just gives a good indication of what they are planning to do here.”

Reach Josh Cross at 615-575-7115. Follow him on Twitter @joshcross.

Updated: The story has been corrected to reflect that Axem Distributing is not a current parts supplier to Berretta.​