PADEN -- The self-supporting space age buildings made of special molded fiberglass shell have withstood hurricane-strength winds on the Gulf Coast and earthquakes in India.

The dome-shaped fiberglass units originated about 20 years ago in the barn of Joel Nichols, a Mantachie farmer, and are now being shipped worldwide. Buyers include municipalities, schools and the military in nine states and four countries. And by the end of the year, factories will probably be set up in India and other countries.

"Joel had a hobby of making things, like boats, out of fiberglass," said Stephen L. Pope Sr., vice president of sales and marketing and director of international business development for Paden-based Domes International Inc. "He decided to see if he could build a domed house and then began to manufacture them from his barn. About four-and-a-half years ago, a group of investors placed a large order. When Joel told them it would take several years to fill the order, they bought a majority of his operation, formed a new corporation and bought a 100,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Golden."

The company quickly diversified and began producing an array of fiberglass products including dome buildings, storm shelters and fiberglass molds.

"We were contacted a couple of years ago by Boeing Aerospace, a major subcontractor to the U.S. Army Missile Defense Command," Pope said. "The Star Wars defense system is essentially based on the Kwajaleine Atoll in the Marshall Islands in the Pacific Ocean, where the interceptor missiles are fired from. About 2,500 people are based there, and they've had a horrible time over the years keeping housing intact for the personnel because of typhoons and salt air. After they saw our houses, which are hurricane-, typhoon-, bug-, earthquake-and water-proof, airtight and maintenance free, they bought a trial order of 15 houses and loved them. They're talking to us about more, because they say they are the best solution they've seen for durable housing."

Pope said the units can be made projectile proof. The Pakistani military in the Himalayas purchased several.

"We anticipate this to be our best year with several government contracts to be filled," Pope said.

Domes International recently completed a two-phase move from the original facility in Golden to two locations -- one in Paden and another in Mantachie. The Paden facility is primarily used for production and the Mantachie facility, managed by Nichols, is used for research and development and custom orders.

"We decided to sell the large 100,000-square-foot facility to move into a smaller one because we will be doing a huge amount of our production work in India and other countries around the world," said Pope. "My job is to establish joint ventures for factories overseas where the units can be produced near where they're used but maintain revenue for us."

Pope has been working with potential buyers from Central and South America, Turkey, Africa and Pakistan, and the company is in negotiations with representatives from the Dominican Republic, India and Nigeria.

"The most pressing venture now is India so we can expand overseas production," he said. "Once we finish our overseas factories, we have several thousand orders to fill for housing. They are literally standing in line for buildings. These units are so practical and inexpensive for developing nations to quickly and easily get structures up and in use. The durability is also a major factor in their appeal. As an example, someone representing the liaison between the Australian government and the Aborigines in the Outback approached us and said the government had built conventional housing for the Aborigines. But when the first cold winter hit the desert, the Aborigines had chopped up the houses for firewood, so this representative was looking around for something that would better fit the need because our fiberglass doesn't burn."

When an earthquake hit near Ahmedabad, with a population of approximately five million, more than 20,000 people were killed and tens of thousands were left homeless. Several of Domes International's units, built in the heart of the, city, survived without a scratch. Considered a phenomenon, more than 65,000 people made the journey to Ahmedabad to view them.

"We're in the process now of signing of a contract for a joint venture to set up a factory in India within the next six months," Pope said. "There's a tremendous demand for these houses in developing countries. They aren't so concerned with aesthetics. They need shelter and protection from the rain."

The shell and components cost $23 to $25 per square foot in the U.S. Assembled units cost an additional $3 to $5 per square foot. The interior can be finished for a total of $40 to $50 per square foot, Pope said.

"The price for the units overseas will be dramatically lower due to the reduced cost of production," he said.

Domestically, Domes International has been working with several municipalities in Alabama, Mississippi and Florida to finalize contracts for multi-million dollar jail facilities. The company also designs, produces and installs commercial and industrial units for houses, rental units, office buildings, resorts, aircraft hangers, storage units, schools, emergency shelters and underground gas tanks and more. HUD and the Alabama Manufactured Housing Commission have certified the units.

"We don't keep a large staff on payroll," Pope said. "Labor is contracted for each project from a pool of workers who know the industry. We can produce from one or two units to as many as 100 at a time."

Dicky Sparks, president and managing director of Domes International, said the company will focus on selling factories to produce buildings overseas as a joint venture and to maintain revenue streams

"We're proud, to be a Mississippi home grown company providing economical and environmentally friendly housing to people around the world and providing jobs here at home," Sparks said.

Contact MBJ contributing writer Lynne Wilbanks Jeter at lwjeter@yahoo.com or (601) 853-3967.