Published: October 07, 2009 08:46 pm         

Marion lands 3-year, $2.5M military contract

Contract means 10 new jobs for West Terre Haute company

WEST TERRE HAUTE — A West Terre Haute manufacturing company has received a three-year, multimillion-dollar contract to make parts for the U.S. military.

Marion Manufacturing, located on West National Avenue, announced the contract, valued at more than $2.5 million, Wednesday morning to the news media. The contract will mean up to 10 new jobs at the facility, which manufactures high-precision parts for heavy equipment, aerospace and government clients.

“We’re very excited,” said Tammy Marion, president of the family-owned business. “Things are happening in our area.”

Marion Manufacturing, which currently employs 39 people, started applying heavily for government contracts and diversifying its manufacturing capabilities when the current economic slowdown began, Marion said. The company competed against 54 other manufacturers for this most recent contract, she said.

The contract will require two shifts in the first year and possibly a third shift in the second year, according to a media release issued by the company.

“It is exciting for us to receive this contract, as it will allow us to keep our current work force and create additional positions at a time when many manufacturers are laying people off,” Marion said in the news release.

Under the contract, Marion will be making components for use in small arms for the military, the media release stated. The components will be used at TACOM, a U.S. Army base, in Rock Island, Ill.

Last year, Marion Manufacturing added 24,000 square feet of manufacturing capacity to its existing 20,000-square-foot facility. The company, which started as a one-person operation in a garage in West Terre Haute in 1996, will be purchasing materials from Indiana companies in Warsaw and Indianapolis in manufacturing the small arms components.

“We remain dedicated to using other Indiana companies on projects we are awarded,” Marion said in Wednesday’s media release.



Arthur Foulkes can be reached at (812) 231-4232 or arthur.foulkes@tribstar.com.

     

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