Terex Utilities, a division of Terex Corporation (NYSE: TEX), has announced plans for a $4 million expansion of its current manufacturing and office facility located in Watertown, SD. The 40,000 sq ft. expansion will include a new, multi-stage paint operation, a new research & development facility and offices. The expansion is expected to contribute up to 175 new jobs to the local economy.

"The expansion of the Watertown, SD facility is central to our customer-focused approach to manufacturing the quality products that our customers demand and deserve," says Don Anderson, Director of Operations for Terex Utilities. "The industry has come to expect the best from us over the years and we want to put ourselves in position to deliver the best quality equipment to the industry for many years to come."

One of the most significant features of the expansion will be a new research and development facility dedicated to providing product improvements and new designs to the marketplace.

"We want to position ourselves for meeting the needs of our utility product customers," says George Ellis, Vice President and General Manager of Terex Utilities. "In order to do that we will spend time developing designs, testing features, building prototypes and experimenting with new technologies in our new facility."

Another part of the expansion will be a 27,000 sq. ft., state-of-the-art paint facility capable of increasing painting efficiency while meeting the quality demands of utility product customers. Anderson states, "The new facility will allow us to move the paint process through production stages in a single manufacturing campus rather than through various buildings."

According to Focus Watertown President Craig Atkins, the expansion provides an economic boost for Watertown. "Terex has consistently been one of our largest private employers, and this growth will add another 175 jobs for our community. Terex is an international company with many facilities around globe. We are pleased they have continued to invest in our community and our state." Focus Watertown has worked with the city of Watertown and the state of South Dakota to assist Terex with the planning and zoning approvals necessary for the expansion.

Earthwork is planned to begin at the new location in mid-April with construction expected to be completed in the fall of 2008. The planned location is directly west of the current operation on Oakwood Road in west Watertown.

Wed Apr 23 14:39:00 CDT 2008