Frazier, owner of Ergonomic Concepts, uprooted his business last month from its former home in the Bartex Business Center on West Main Street in Clayton. The company now occupies 20,000 square feet on 27 acres on West Noble Street.

It was a good move, Frazier said, because it allowed him to buy a building instead of leasing one, as he had in Clayton. And although Selma is a farther drive than Clayton for employees commuting from Raleigh, Frazier said the opening of the U.S. 70 Bypass made the drive more bearable.

“I was intrigued with the bypass opening and really wanted to find somewhere close to it,” he said. “My hope is that area along and near it will continue to grow.”

Ergonomic Concepts makes and distributes adjustable keyboard trays, workstation furniture, mouse support, computer holders, monitor arms and laptop solutions. Frazier started the business 15 years ago when he began sketching designs from his garage in Clayton.

“It’s always engaging, always challenging,” Frazier said of his line of work.

The company once outsourced much of its heavier assembly. But over the last few years, Frazier said, he has bought the equipment to do most of his work in-house.

Ergonomic Concepts products are available through the catalogs of major office-supply chains, including Office Max and Staples. Also, the company sells through furniture dealers like Corporate Express and Boise Cascade.

The move to Selma hasn’t yet created new jobs, but Frazier said that would likely change within the next few years. Ergonomic Concepts currently employs about 18 workers and contracts with as many as 50 sales representatives around the United States.

“This move is definitely generating opportunities for local employment,” he said. “It won’t be on a grand scale, but within the next year to 18 months, I think we’ll probably add about 10 employees.”

Despite a sluggish economy, Frazier said he envisioned an expansion of his business within the next two years. Currently, his company uses 15,000 square feet for manufacturing and the remaining 5,000 square feet for office space.

“We’ve felt a slight downturn,” he said, referring to how the economy has affected his business. “But we’ve ventured into some other markets to offset that downturn. So we’re holding steady. I’m still excited about our prospects here.”

For more information, call 202-5002 or visit the company Web site at www.ergoconcepts.com.