LOGAN – A groundbreaking ceremony was held Thursday at Amanda Mfg. with company representatives and local and state public officials in attendance.
Amanda Mfg., a Deshler Group company specializing in metal forming, has been based in Logan for more than 30 years and broke ground on a $5 million expansion project and renovation to its facility.
The expansion takes in 68,000-plus square feet, an increase of approximately 40 percent of its current size with 54,880 square feet of manufacturing plant space and 14,000 square feet of new office and facade improvement.
The current building is 139,000 square feet in which 58,880 square feet is dedicated to manufacturing.
“The expansion is not due to a new contract and anything like that,” said vice-president of manufacturing operations, Mike Hood. “We just ran out of room for what we manufacture.”
According to Hood, the expansion is expected to be completed by spring 2016.
Amanda Mfg. is one of Hocking County’s largest employers with over 200 employees currently employed at the East Front Street facility. The expansion will allow for more employees, but at this time, the company is unsure of how many jobs will be created.
Amanda Mfg. develops and manufactures cold and technical formed rod and stamped assemblies for Fortune 500 and 100 automotive customers and suppliers and is expanding to address its growing international business.
The expansion supports Amanda Manufacturing’s foray into new products and services, including the growth of the company’s consumer-facing brand, Amanda Products, which launched in 2013.
“Amanda Manufacturing has tripled in sales over the past five years and now we are at capacity at our Logan facility,” said Robert Gruschow, President of Amanda Manufacturing and the Deshler Group. “As we continue to diversify our products and services, we need to expand our operations, add a wide range of jobs, and continue to operate efficiently to support our fast-paced growth.”
With the expansion, Amanda Manufacturing plans to add new technology and machinery to enhance its offerings including additional engineering and design services, tube forming, and increase the use of light-weight, high-strength steels. Additionally, the manufacturing floor will be designed to be more conducive to observation, training and efficient workflow.
The office expansion will include a new facade and office space for engineering and design teams, with a state-of-the-art multi-media conference room to support global communications with Amanda Manufacturing’s customers, business partners, and the six other Deshler Group companies.
“Adding human resources is critical to our ability to position Amanda Manufacturing as an engineering- and design-driven manufacturing solutions provider for our global customers,” said Gruschow. Thirty percent of the 217-member Amanda Mfg. workforce is technical labor and logistics workers.
Amanda Mfg. plans to expand jobs significantly in those areas, as well as several management positions. Job opportunities will be announced in early 2015. “We are looking for people with experience, but also are planning to partner with our local universities and trade schools to mentor, train and recruit young talent from Ohio,” said Gruschow.
“The Development Services Agency, on behalf of Governor John Kasich and working with JobsOhio and the Appalachian Partnership for Economic Growth are excited to see the next phase of Amanda Manufacturing’s growth in the region,” said David Goodman, director of the Ohio Development Services Agency.
“Providing jobs is the greatest benefit a company can bring to a community, certainly to the families. Through the Governor’s Office of Appalachia, at the Development Services Agency, we are additionally committed to develop and improve the Appalachian region to be economically competitive. Amanda Manufacturing is a strong economic development partner that has consistently delivered on its job and capital investment commitments to the state,” he added.
Amanda Mfg. has been in operation since 1953. The company was previously named Amanda Bent Bolt, when it was purchased by the Deshler Group in 1978 and is currently one of Deshler Group’s seven diverse brands, united to create complete focused solutions for customer needs, from manufacturing and assembly to transportation and logistics.
In 1984, the Deshler Group purchased Amanda Manufacturing’s factory home in Logan. By 1988, Amanda Mfg. expanded into other industries, parts, and techniques, doubling the factory in size. Amanda Manufacturing’s revenue is projected to be more than $60 million in 2014. Also, in 2013, Deshler Group launched Amanda Products, a new consumer-facing division of Amanda Manufacturing.
“Amanda Manufacturing’s long-time commitment to the state and the region, its creative and skilled workers and its leadership in building quality products all contribute not only to its reputation but the reputation of manufacturing in Ohio. We look forward to a relationship long into the future,” said Goodman.
In addition to remarks from Gruschow and Director Goodman, Mike Hood, Vice-President of Manufacturing Operations at Deshler Group and Plant Manager of Amanda Mfg., Joy Davis, Hocking County Community Improvement Corporation, Logan Mayor Martin Irvine, and Kevin McQuaide, UAW Local 1549 president, spoke at the groundbreaking ceremony. Also in attendance were more than 150 customers and community partners, along with the Deshler Group and Amanda Mfg. team.
From Logan Daily | October 21, 2014
