WireCo WorldGroup, a leading global manufacturer of both steel and synthetic rope, specialty wire and engineered products, continues to grow within Central Missouri with an investment of $14 million to expand their facility in Pettis County located just outside Sedalia at 24150 Oak Grove Lane. WireCo has started working on the addition to their existing manufacturing facility and is targeting completion by the end of the first quarter 2017 with equipment installation expected to be completed by the end of summer 2017. This growth will add more than 30 jobs in Sedalia which offer competitive starting salaries, benefits and comprehensive training.
The expansion includes adding approximately 90,000 square feet to the facility which will enhance the volume and number of products made right here in Pettis County. New products will include crane ropes used in construction, fine wire products such as aircraft control cables, large mining ropes and structural strand used in architecture and for suspension bridges.
“Our plant in Sedalia has a long-established history of producing products for the most demanding applications”, said Philip Crouse, Senior Vice President of North American operations. “The expertise to manufacture such ropes takes years to establish and requires a reliable workforce. When we were looking for the ideal location to centralize our U.S. rope manufacturing of these technical products, it made the most sense to choose a location where we had an infrastructure established and a relationship with the community. Sedalia was the right choice.”
Crouse stated that over the next six months, WireCo will be bringing equipment into the Sedalia facility that is capable of producing bridge strand of at least four-inch diameter. “The equipment will be undergoing mechanical and technical upgrades during the installation, with the intent of allowing us to expand our corporate capabilities. WireCo will also be bringing in our largest steel rope manufacturing equipment increasing the capability to create a rope with a total weight in excess of 100 tons. These exciting developments will provide long-term growth for the facility and allow us to continue to meet the changing demands of future rope markets,” said Crouse.
WireCo’s expansion would not have been possible without the support of Pettis County and Economic Development leaders in the community. The Pettis County Commission unanimously approved the issuance of Chapter 100 bonds in December 2016. Chapter 100 bonds are a mechanism in the State of Missouri authorizing cities and counties to issue bonds to facilitate industrial development to occur by providing real estate and personal property tax abatement on new equipment and improvements to existing facilities.
As the County’s first Chapter 100 project approved by the Commission, we were very impressed with the process and the benefit to the community. WireCo is a key piece of the Pettis County Economy and the Commission certainly sees the long-term benefit in helping this very valuable facility succeed and grow within the county,” stated Presiding Commissioner David Dick.
Pettis County and Sedalia are no stranger to supporting reinvestment from companies with existing facilities in the community. Even throughout the economic recession the economic base has continued to grow. Over the past 10 years, Economic Development Sedalia – Pettis County has assisted 55 companies with new and expanded facilities resulting in over $315 million in new capital investment and 2000 new jobs in Pettis County. With an average wage of $42,584, these new jobs have brought a total new payroll of over $85 million to the area since 2006, according to Rusty Kahrs, President of Economic Development Sedalia-Pettis County’s Board of
Directors.
“As a community, the best affirmation you can receive is when an existing business decides to grow within the community. The manufacturers in Sedalia and Pettis County could operate anywhere in the country and even internationally so our dedication to working with existing businesses to retain and support their future growth is so vitally important. WireCo WorldGroup is a great example of a company who could have expanded anywhere. We are excited to see the growth occur right here in Pettis County,” said Mr. Kahrs.