Exhibit Works on Way

Michigan-based Exhibit Works, one of the nation’s largest design and fabrication firms, said it will start a West Coast operation in a 110,000-square-foot facility in Foothill Ranch to serve existing clients such as Irvine-based Lincoln Mercury and to build a western region client base.

The company is one of several--including advertising giant Young & Rubicam--to follow Lincoln Mercury to Orange County. The domestic luxury unit of Ford Motor Co. relocated its world headquarters to Irvine from Michigan last year.

Exhibit Works said it will initially employ about 20 people in its new Orange County office when it opens later this year.

The company, with almost $100 million in revenue last year, has 300 employees. It specializes in the design and production of exhibits for trade shows, auto shows, showrooms and training centers, as well as in development, design and fabrication of museum displays and exhibits.

Dominic Silvio, Exhibit Works’ founder and president, said he sees “tremendous growth potential” in California because of the state’s large automotive, technology and manufacturing base.