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Paul Mueller Co. breaks ground on $22M expansion

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Amid sweltering summer heat, Paul Mueller Co. (OTC: MUEL) officials broke ground Aug. 26 on a multimillion-dollar expansion project at its Springfield headquarters.

The groundbreaking ceremony, which included Gov. Mike Parson among state officials in attendance, was held outside on the future construction site near the corner of Phelps Street and LaFontaine Avenue. Dozens of employees at the 84-year-old stainless steel manufacturing company also were present for the kickoff of the $22 million expansion work that is expected to create 133 jobs, according to officials.

The new production facility, which will increase capacity for the assembly of large production modules, will add more than 100,000 square feet of space, including a clear-span, climate-controlled production area spanning 60,000 square feet, according to a news release. The facility will be at the northwest portion of the company’s 1600 W. Phelps St. campus, which sits at the intersection of Kansas and Chestnut Expressway.

“It will provide a column-free open manufacturing space where we can assemble and test larger systems for our pharmaceutical, food, beverage and chemical customers,” Mueller Co. President and CEO David Moore said in the release. “Our co-workers have made this possible by safely providing increased value to our customers, resulting in the largest backlog and highest profitability in our history. The facility will also expand product development and training capabilities to support our growth.”

After the ceremony, Moore said construction should begin immediately and expects the company will be operating in the building by next fall. Ross Construction Group LLC is general contractor on the project and architect is Buxton Kubik Dodd Design Collective.

“I would imagine the building will be complete in September [2025],” he said. “We’re building this building for a handful of product lines. Our pharmaceutical product line will probably move most of their production into it. We make large modules for pharmaceutical customers and that will free up more space in our tank shop for our other tank-based product lines.”

According to the release, the company is set to receive benefits from the Missouri Works program, which awards withholdings or tax credits in exchange for job creation. It also is receiving assistance from Missouri One Start, a division of the state Department of Economic Development that assists businesses with recruitment and training needs.

Michelle Hattaway, DED director, said at the groundbreaking that the expansion announcement is just the latest chapter of Mueller Co.’s long history of commitment to excellence in manufacturing.

“We’re excited to continue to follow along with your success story as you expand capacity for the assembly of large production modules,” she said, adding her state department also is proud to continue partnering with the Springfield-based company as it grows

Officials declined to disclose details of the economic incentives for the expansion project. However, Moore said the company’s planned addition of 130-plus jobs because of the expansion will likely be gradual.

“As the completion of the building nears, we’ll be trying to ramp up early,” he said.

The groundbreaking comes a few weeks after Mueller Co. reported its second-quarter financial report. Its second-quarter net income finished at $6.8 million, a 41% increase from the same three-month period in 2023.

The financial report also noted its backlog this year is $187.3 million, as of June 30, compared with $106 million on June 30, 2023. The majority of the total is in the U.S., where backlog is $181.2 million.

The company’s over-the-counter stock yesterday hit a 52-week high of $150 per share. The stock’s 52-week low is $47.03 per share.

An expanded version of this article is scheduled to be published in Springfield Business Journal’s Sept. 2 print edition.

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