27North mulls further expansion at new Springfield campus

While its new headquarters in Springfield isn't yet complete, 27North Inc. may need additional space at the campus, the company's leader said on Tuesday.

Company founder and CEO Paul Bosovik spoke about the company's growth during a live interview by Springfield Business Journal Editorial Vice President Eric Olson. Bosovik participated in SBJ's 12 People You Need to Know series at The Backlot, Alamo Drafthouse Springfield's restaurant and bar.

The company, an automotive manufacturer specializing in custom luxury expedition vehicles, is currently developing a $6.5 million, 50,100-square-foot headquarters at 4200 W. Kearney St., near Springfield-Branson National Airport. A spring 2024 completion is targeted by general contractor Rich Kramer Construction Inc., according to past reporting.

"When we started the project, we needed about half the space," Bosovik said yesterday. "Now, we're a few months from completion, and we're already at maximum capacity and talking about building a second building behind this first one."

The company currently operates at 3702 E. Kerr. St in northeast Springfield.

Formerly Everest Conversions, 27North started nearly four years ago in Bosovik's mother's garage. He said the company has grown steadily since, with $8 million in 2022 revenue and expectations of exceeding $10 million this year. A short-term projection for the company calls for upwards of $30 million to $50 million in revenue, he added.

"Over the last four years, we've moved out probably five times," Bosovik said. "For those of you who are well versed in manufacturing, it's not easy to move a manufacturing plant five times in four years."

He said the new campus in northwest Springfield would accommodate its growth – and potentially more, with another building – and give 27North additional office and manufacturing space.

"We can go from making about one to two units a week to one to two units a day," he said.

Bosovik leads a company that builds expedition trucks designed for off-road and off-grid travel, and he said the company is considering expansion into boats and electric vehicles in the future. For 27North, 2023 was the first full year for its 30A Ascender expedition truck, according to past reporting.