MENDOTA, IL — The new Black Bros. Co. roll-manufacturing building is close to complete. The 142-year-old machinery maker, which broke ground on the project in late Feb., will start moving equipment into the 18,000-square-foot facility in early Sept. with plans to begin production under the roof by month’s end.
“We are wrapping up most of the outside contractor work now, with a few minor electrical details yet to take care of,” said Chief Operating Officer Jeff Simonton. “So, we’re getting a bunch of little inside work done so when the production equipment starts moving in, it’s all hands on deck to get it level and all the final electrical hookups done.”
The move-in process will be conducted in stages and resemble a traditional startup. Mechanical riggers will be called upon to relocate machinery, and various vendors will be back onsite to recommission equipment and oversee the reinstallations. The process will not come without its difficulties.
“Toward the end of Sept. when we move the Abbott (cylindrical grinder) is going to the most complicated,” Simonton admitted. “It’s very large and has an electrical panel about the size of two refrigerators. Their guys will be here to help disassemble and come back to reassemble. It’s going to be a huge month to move all the equipment and stay as productive as possible, which is difficult to do. Thank goodness we have (Black Bros. Southeast Division) so we have some type of emergency for roller. But, we’re pretty far ahead of schedule right now, and we are hoping that has bought us enough time to get the lathes moved in place and ready to roll again.”
When finished, the building will provide advantages for the company’s Roll Department, where the complete process of steel-roll machining and rubber vulcanization takes place. A streamlined workflow and tighter climate control are among the top improvements. The current Roll Department was built in 1907.
Black Bros. plans to invite the public to its headquarters for an Open House once the final touches are in place.
“We’re still trying to get timing on (the delivery of) our combination lathe. That’s kind of the icing on top of the cake that will allow for greater efficiency with less moves,” Simonton continued. “And, we have a little outside work to do: some landscaping, lighting adjustments, seeding the grass. Then we will clean up the parking lot and reseal it, restripe it, and call it good.”
