Governor's Office of Economic Development
RELEASE DATE: Monday, July 2, 2001
For More Information Contact: Mary Lehecka Nelson, 773-5032

New Equipment Allows Pacer Corporation to Enter New Markets

(Pierre) –   The Pacer Corporation of Custer is expanding, thanks in part to the purchase of state-of-the-art equipment, said Chris Braendlin, commissioner, Governor’s Office of Economic Development. With the new equipment, Pacer will now be able to market high-grade micas to manufacturers of paints, coatings, plastics, cosmetics, adhesives, sealants and other technology based applications

“This company is definitely in the growth mode,” said Braendlin. “The new markets created by the purchase of this equipment will allow the company to create up to six jobs in the next three years.”

George “Duff” Kruse, Pacer Corporation president, said the growth should eventually require a new facility for the company. “By entering these growth oriented, technical markets, Pacer's business will expand, requiring additional employees and eventually a new facility located outside Custer proper,” he said.

The new equipment, Kruse said, is the most sophisticated mica classification equipment available. “This equipment sorts the high purity muscovite mica from other minerals in our ore supply, as well as separates the mica flakes in various sizes. The equipment uses no water or chemicals and is a fully contained system that does not exhaust process air into the atmosphere, but recycles it within the same system,” he explained.

The company received a $147,000 APEX (Agricultural Processing and Export) loan from the Governor’s Office of Economic Development to assist with the purchase of the new equipment.

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