K-Space, which manufactures diagnostic tools for the semiconductor industry, plans to double its research lab space in Dexter.

Earlier this week, the company was granted unanimous approval for a combined site plan in the village’s research park by the Dexter Village Council. The plan was unanimously approved by the Planning Commission in early June.

K-Space plans to construct a 1-story, 6,840-square-foot addition to its current building in the Dexter Research and Development Park off Dan Hoey Road, and is expected to begin construction in mid-August.

Councilman Jim Carson, who is also on the Planning Commission, told the council that K-Space recently received a national award as the No. 1 Small Business Exporter of the Year.

Daryl Bartlett, owner of the company, told the Planning Commission that the company had done $80 million in sales in 2010.

According to a press release about the award, K-Space was named the U.S. Small Business Administration’s 2011 Exporter of the Year award winner for Michigan, the Midwest and the nation.

“The Exporter of the Year Award is given to companies who have increased sales, profits, and/or growth of employment as a result of creative overseas marketing strategic, devised effective solutions to export-related problems, have demonstrated encouragement of other small businesses to export, provided voluntary assistance to other small businesses entering the export market, cooperated with other firms in the creation of export trading companies and/or introduced unique trading relationships, products or services,” according to information about the award.

K-Space began manufacturing its products and specialized software in 1992 “based on scientific innovations developed in the University of Michigan’s research laboratories,” information about the company states.

All of its manufacturing takes place in Michigan, and 60 percent of its sales are exports overseas, primarily to Europe, Japan, Korea and China. The company has doubled its work force in the last three years to 20 employees and will double its space in Dexter. The company plans to add another five employees in the next 12-18 months.

The original facility was built in 2008, and the addition will include six offices for new employees as well as increased manufacturing and development space needs according to the project description. “K-Space will continue to manufacture diagnostic tools for the semiconductor industry. These tools are a combination of hardware and software, both manufactured in-house at K-Space, with custom machining of the parts for these tools being done at local machine shops,” information in the project plan states.

The facility is located at 2182 Bishop Dr. near the village’s water tower.

Lisa Allmendinger is a regional reporter for AnnArbor.com. She can be reached at lisaallmendinger@annarbor.com. For more Dexter stories, visit our Dexter page.