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711 E. Wells Ave.
Pierre, SD57501
(605) 773-3301
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 28, 2006
CONTACT: Mary Lehecka Nelson, 605-773-3301
L&M Radiator, a global manufacturer, announces its expansion
PIERRE, S.D. – L&M Radiator, Inc., worldwide manufacturer and distributor of MESABI industrial radiators and heat exchangers, announced today it would expand North American production by building a plant in Yankton, South Dakota.
“This is a solid company with a strong history of success,” Gov. Mike Rounds said. “This will be a welcome addition to Yankton’s corporate community.”
Dan Chisholm, L&M president, said the decision to build in South Dakota was made after exploring options to expand in Minnesota, Iowa and other states. “It was important for us to have a partnership with metal fabricators that could meet our needs. The labor force was also a consideration. The South Dakota option kept surfacing as the best solution for us,” said Chisholm.
Chisholm said L&M currently employs about 250 people in Hibbing, MN. The new plant in Yankton will grow to 80 employees within three years, according to Chisholm. “We’ve been well received in Yankton and assisted by the Yankton Office of Economic Development in our location selection. We’re impressed with the available skilled labor force that shares our Minnesota work ethic. We will be able to draw employees from Yankton and the surrounding communities.”
Chisholm said the build-out of the Yankton spec building for the new plant, 40,000 square feet of manufacturing space, will commence as soon as possible and be fully operational in early spring.
L&M officials will be in Yankton in the next several weeks to conduct a Job Fair. Positions available are assemblers, tube machine operators, maintenance and warehouse personnel. L&M offers excellent benefits and competitive wages.
Kurt Hauser, Executive Director of the Yankton Office of Economic Development said that this project is a great example of successful partnerships. “This project speaks well for the tremendous partnership that exists between the City of Yankton, Yankton Area Progressive Growth, and the Yankton Office of Economic Development.” Hauser noted that other key partners in the project include the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, the Area WideAreawide Business Council, and Yankton’s financial institutions.
Hibbing businessmen George Langer and Clay Murray founded L&M Radiator in 1957. Murray’s son-in-law, Alex Chisholm, purchased the company in the 1960s. Under Alex Chisholm, the company became global with plants built in Mexico in 1967 and Australia in 1972. A second North American plant was built in El Paso, Texas in 1980. L&M’s third US plant opened in October, 2005 in Independence, Iowa. Dan Chisholm said 2006 worldwide sales totaled $55 million.
According to L&M’s website, mesabi.com, the company manufactures heavy-duty radiators, oil coolers, heat exchangers and charge air coolers. All MESABI brand products share a common feature of being field repairable. Products are used on mobile and stationary equipment serving the industries of mining, oil and gas drilling, construction, waste management, forest harvesting and municipal transit.
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