Oshkosh Truck Increases Operating Capacity At McNeilus With $8.3 Million Expansion
21 July 1999
Oshkosh Truck Increases Operating Capacity At McNeilus With $8.3 Million Expansion
DODGE CENTER, Minn.--July 21, 1999--Oshkosh Truck Corporation announced plans for its subsidiary, McNeilus Companies Inc., North America's leading manufacturer of ready-mix concrete mixers and a leading producer of refuse hauling bodies, to invest more than $8.3 million to expand its Dodge Center, Minn., manufacturing facility. The plant produces concrete mixers, refuse hauling bodies, and concrete batch plants for worldwide distribution. It houses the primary parts distribution center for North America as well."This expansion lays a solid foundation for continued growth of our production volumes in both the concrete mixer and refuse hauling markets. It fuels the growth of our plant's technological capabilities and helps advance our manufacturing techniques," said Dan Lanzdorf, president of McNeilus Companies.
The first phase of the expansion includes a 30,000 square-foot plant expansion of the paint facility. The expanded paint facility will feature dual high-volume paint lines incorporating state-of-the-art paint booths and drying ovens. The new paint lines improve paint finish and meet the highest environmental emissions standards. The addition is underway and scheduled for completion in October 1999.
The second phase of the $8.3-million expansion is a 69,000 square-foot addition to the primary manufacturing plant. This expansion facilitates automated production of refuse bodies with the addition of advanced robotics and automated material handling. It will provide the additional space needed to keep pace with the record sales growth the company has generated in the past two years. The entire expansion project is scheduled to be completed in 2000.
McNeilus's Dodge Center facility employs more than 700 people. More than 100 production employees have been hired during the past year, and the plant expansion will create additional hiring requirements over the next year.
McNeilus Companies, a subsidiary of Oshkosh Truck Corporation , is a leading manufacturer of concrete mixers, refuse bodies, and concrete batch plants. Headquartered in Dodge Center, Minn., it has manufacturing facilities in Minnesota, Iowa, and California, and 16 parts and service branches strategically located across the country.