Another Plant Expansion for D&S Manufacturing

John Barkley, the vice president and general manager of D&S Manufacturing (Black River Falls, WI), has announced that work has begun on a 9,300 sq ft addition to their manufacturing facility. He explained that “the pursuit of our mission of long term growth, coupled with ongoing increases in sales make this the right time to follow through on expansion”.

The current addition plans were laid out during the previous expansion completed in 2009. That ambitious project increased production space 50 percent by covering a series of separate buildings under a single roof with a much higher ceiling.

That increase in square footage allowed space for new equipment and the realignment of existing machinery resulting in improved functionality and workflow. Since that time, additional equipment acquisitions have filled the building. While researching the best solution for increased machining requirements, the conclusion became clear: more space is required.

The company is working with the same general contractor allowing for a very aggressive timeline. The project is expected to be completed by late September or early October. “The foresight of the previous expansion design makes this project easy” explained Joe Lane, the continuous improvement manager.

The construction project will not affect existing operations and will maintain the same standards, carrying forward the same air, electric, water and lighting. Ultimately, existing walls in the expansion area will be brought down where possible, opening a clear line of sight between existing and new construction, allowing for a seamless transition into the new production space.

A new vertical machining center (VMC) has been chosen and will be installed in the addition. D&S will have the opportunity to create a pit for the machine so that the work table will be level with the floor. Initially the new square footage will be devoted to a recently awarded project that will be the first to utilize the VMC. There will be an ample staging area for the project and available space for future needs.

www.dsmfg.com