CHAMPAIGN — HL Precision Machining plans to move to the former Jerry's IGA building at 2110 Round Barn Road, C, later this year, the company's president said.

Steve Hillard said the company, which employs about 43, hopes to move from its current quarters at 1302 Parkland Court, C, in late December.

"We're targeting the week between Christmas and New Year's," he said.

HL Precision Machining does machining for an array of industries, and Hillard said the move will give HL "the capacity to continue to grow our business."

The company occupies about 24,000 square feet in two buildings on Parkland Court, and the former supermarket will provide about 45,000 square feet, Hillard said.

Plus, the three-acre property gives HL room for further expansion if needed.

"We've been looking for a larger facility for a couple years," he said.

Since Hillard acquired the company in June 2006, its workforce has nearly doubled the and it has added capabilities.

"We've been squeezed for space for some time," he said, adding the company expects to gain operational efficiencies from improved work flow.

The Jerry's IGA building has been vacant since September 2010, when the supermarket closed. But Hillard said the building "looks and feels like a relatively new facility."

HL plans to build new offices there and have electrical and concrete work done to accommodate its equipment, he said.

The company also plans to install a couple overhead doors and create a larger assembly and welding space.

The building's exterior will be kept basically the same, except for being painted two tones of gray, he said.

Hillard said the Round Barn Road building was the right size for HL. The fact it was air-conditioned was also appealing because the machining company deals with tight tolerances that can be affected by temperature changes.

HL serves clients in several areas, including military aerospace, scientific instruments, consumer packaging and radar communications.

In 2010, the company was named the Small Business of the Year by the Champaign County Chamber of Commerce.

Hillard said that during the last year, the manufacturing sector has been more resilient than other parts of the economy. The sector recovered in mid-2010 and has been holding its own since then, even as other sectors lagged.

U.S. manufacturers have been helped by a weak dollar, making their products more competitive overseas, he said.

They also benefited from other manufacturers going out of business during the recession, leaving less manufacturing capacity.