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Increased sales and product line spurs major Yargus expansion
Oct. 12, 2009

MARSHALL, Ill. -- Yargus Manufacturing Inc., which produces the Layco line of material handling equipment, has announced a major plant expansion at its production facility in Marshall, Ill.

Yargus has added 22,425 square feet of space to its plant and 3,000 square feet of space to its office area. The plant expansion accommodates a loading dock inside the building, a new parts shop, additional and larger cranes, a higher ceiling capacity, new offices and expanded break room and restroom facilities for Yargus employees.

Discussing the expansion, company president Larry Yargus said, "We needed to expand our facilities because our sales are up substantially. In fact they've doubled since 2006. This new facility is safer for our employees and more cost-efficient for the company. For our customers, it allows us to provide better lead time, improved quality control and quicker turnaround on orders."

Yargus explained that the Layco product line has grown to include additional blender and conveyor models and that customers are requiring larger blender capacities, so the product being built has become larger than the existing facility could efficiently accommodate.

"Not only did we need more floor space, but our existing ceiling was not high enough for the crane size our operation required," Yargus said. "Adding 12 new cranes has allowed us to increase our production capacity, because we can have several different projects going at the same time."

The expanded production facility has nine 5-ton cranes, two 10-ton cranes and one 1-ton crane. The addition allows for a 26-foot crane hook height plus the safety of moving the heavier loads. "This will give us the continuing advantage of being able to design equipment to meet the need as the fertilizer industry continues to consolidate," Yargus explained.

Locating the loading docks inside the plant has allowed the company to get semis off the street, he said. "Now we can load containers for overseas shipments quickly and more efficiently." Also, he pointed out that the expansion includes a new parts area that allows for more efficient parts storage, making more space available for the increased customer base.

With Yargus's increase in production came an increase in its workforce. This led to the need for a larger break area and restroom facilities. "We added a 60-foot by 20-foot break room/restroom adjacent to the production floor and built new office space above that. Now our production manager, shipping manager and parts manager have new offices within view of the production operation," Yargus said.

The company also is in the process of expanding its sales and engineering office area, adding 3,000 square feet to the existing space, including the addition of a basement. Yargus said, "The last time we added office space was 1984, and we've added more than a dozen engineering and sales employees since then. With this addition we will have adequate workspace for each employee."

Yargus Manufacturing has consistently provided the domestic and international fertilizer industry with innovative blending and conveying equipment from its five-acre complex in Marshall, Ill. Now in its 41st year, the company has expanded its Layco line to include such innovative products as the versatile Volumetric Blender, Declining Weight Blender and Tower Blend Systems. At the same time it has developed an expertise for turn-key projects, supplying all the in-loading, in-plant, blending and out-loading equipment, custom designed for each application.

SOURCE: Yargus Mfg.a

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