POPLAR
BLUFF, Mo. – February 21 -- Corporate visitors, a luncheon, plant tours and a
ribbon cutting ceremony highlighted the celebration marking the completion of
the first phase of the $36 million investment Briggs and Stratton Corporation
is making in its small engines manufacturing plant in Poplar Bluff, Mo.
The
$8 million Phase I project involved extensive remodeling and the moving of
machines from the west production facility into the main plant.
"Wow!
One word sums it up. It is really remarkable to see what you folks have
done," said Todd Teske, president, chairman and chief executive officer at
Briggs and Stratton's corporate headquarters in Milwaukee, Wis. "All
your hard work was really worth it."
Employees
wore T-shirts with the words, "I survived the remodel 2014."
After
touring the plant, Teske said he was "very pleased with what this place
has become and what it will become in the future" when the production of
two new engines starts over the next two years.
"I'm
proud of all of you for all your hard work," Teske said. "This plant
is one of our shining stars."
Briggs and Stratton also is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its plant in the
Poplar Bluff Industrial Park.
"We
are celebrating our 25th year here and we are looking forward to a long and
bright future in Poplar Bluff," said Mark Melloy, the plant manager.
Teske
talked with plant and community leaders during the luncheon and to all the
employees in the afternoon.
He
also showed a video touting new innovations and new products, including a new
engine that is 60 percent quieter and a lawnmower with collapsing handles that
can be hung on the wall.
"It
takes up 70 percent less floor space in a garage," Teske said.
He
also thanked community leaders for their support of Briggs and Stratton.
Community
leaders attending the luncheon were Mayor Ed DeGaris; Steve Halter, president
of the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce;, state Rep. Todd
Richardson; Dr. Devin Stephenson, president of Three Rivers College and chamber
board chairman; and Dr. Wesley Payne, TRC vice president of learning.
Teske
said Briggs and Stratton has been spending a lot of money on training.
"We
have been training a lot of people," Teske said. "Our people need a
different skill set now."
While
discussing domestic and foreign markets, Teske expects to continue to see a
recovery from two years ago when sales were down due to the drought. He said
the U.S. market was up 3 percent last year and he is hoping for a 4-6 percent
growth this year depending on the weather.
Chamber
members conducted a ribbon cutting ceremony under a new red banner prior to
touring the plant.
During
the remodeling project, some interior walls were removed to create more
production space and re-arrange the production lines to increase the plant's
efficiency.
Now
the Briggs workers are able to expand production in less space.
Production
space has decreased from 410,000 square feet to 310,000 square feet, according
to Melloy.
"The
100,000-square foot west building will now be used for a warehouse,"
Melloy said.
Briggs and Stratton has added 200 employees over the past nearly two years and now
has 1,050.
Joe
Wright, senior vice president of Briggs and Stratton and president of the
Engine Products Group, spoke briefly.
"I
know how hard each of you has worked. Don't let up," Wright said. "We
have a long way yet to go. We have to carry on to the finish line and make sure
we do it right."
Jesse
Sumrall, technical services manager, and Marcus Braddock, the new production
control manager, led one of the tour groups.
The
starting point was large stacks of 2,500-pound aluminum blocks, which are
melted. The molten aluminum flows to 25 die cast machines that make the parts
for the small engines.
He
and Braddock, who recently moved to Poplar Bluff from a Toyota plant in
Mississippi, explained how the seven machine lines and the two assembly lines
have been changed to improve the plant's efficiency.
David Silverberg http://www.dailystatesman.com/
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