First Brandt-made augers roll off McLean County production line

Posted on June 22, 2018
auger
Brandt Industries is producing at its McLean County factory a ‘swing away” auger similar to this auger seen at the plant last December. (File photo by Howard Packowitz/WJBC).

 

By Howard Packowitz

NORMAL – Brandt Industries is sending to market its first McLean County-made products.

The Canadian firm bought the shuttered Kongskilde manufacturing plant between Normal and Hudson after local taxing bodies agreed to provide property tax breaks over 10 years.

Friday, Brandt announced on social media and on its website that it has started producing a 1070HP Swing Away Auger. In the future, the company said it will increase the factory’s productive capacity to include agricultural equipment specifically for American corn and soybean markets.

McLean County is Brandt’s first U.S. plant. A news release said Brandt has made extensive improvements to make it a “state-of-the-art” 208,000 square foot facility. It’s investment locally is expected to approach $25 million over the next five years, according to the company.

Brandt said it would hire 75 full-time employees by the first quarter of this year, and the news release said its workforce would at full capacity reach more than 300 people.

“We have been very impressed with the enthusiasm, skills, and work ethic displayed by the local workforce and Brandt is proud to be able to deliver on its promise of creating employment for these highly-skilled workers,” Brandt President and CEO, Shaun Semple said in a prepared statement.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]

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