Briggs & Stratton event in Poplar Bluff celebrates $8M Phase I milestone

POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. -- Corporate visitors, a luncheon, plant tours and a ribbon cutting ceremony highlighted the celebration marking the completion of the first phase of the $36 million investment Briggs & Stratton Corporation is making in its small engines manufacturing plant in Poplar Bluff, Mo.

The $8 million Phase I project involved extensive remodeling and the moving of machines from the west production facility into the main plant.

"Wow! One word sums it up. It is really remarkable to see what you folks have done," said Todd Teske, president, chairman and chief executive officer at Briggs & Stratton's corporate headquarters in Milwaukee, Wis. "All your hard work was really worth it."

Employees wore T-shirts with the words, "I survived the remodel 2014."

After touring the plant, Teske said he was "very pleased with what this place has become and what it will become in the future" when the production of two new engines starts over the next two years.

"I'm proud of all of you for all your hard work," Teske said. "This plant is one of our shining stars."

Briggs & Stratton also is celebrating the 25th anniversary of its plant in the Poplar Bluff Industrial Park.

"We are celebrating our 25th year here and we are looking forward to a long and bright future in Poplar Bluff," said Mark Melloy, the plant manager.

Teske talked with plant and community leaders during the luncheon and to all the employees in the afternoon.

He also showed a video touting new innovations and new products, including a new engine that is 60 percent quieter and a lawnmower with collapsing handles that can be hung on the wall.

"It takes up 70 percent less floor space in a garage," Teske said.

He also thanked community leaders for their support of Briggs & Stratton.

Community leaders attending the luncheon were Mayor Ed DeGaris; Steve Halter, president of the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerc;, state Rep. Todd Richardson; Dr. Devin Stephenson, president of Three Rivers College and chamber board chairman; and Dr. Wesley Payne, TRC vice president of learning.

Teske said Briggs & Stratton has been spending a lot of money on training.

"We have been training a lot of people," Teske said. "Our people need a different skill set now."

While discussing domestic and foreign markets, Teske expects to continue to see a recovery from two years ago when sales were down due to the drought. He said the U.S. market was up 3 percent last year and he is hoping for a 4-6 percent growth this year depending on the weather.

Chamber members conducted a ribbon cutting ceremony under a new red banner prior to touring the plant.

During the remodeling project, some interior walls were removed to create more production space and re-arrange the production lines to increase the plant's efficiency.

Now the Briggs workers are able to expand production in less space.

Production space has decreased from 410,000 square feet to 310,000 square feet, according to Melloy.

"The 100,000-square foot west building will now be used for a warehouse," Melloy said.

Briggs & Stratton has added 200 employees over the past nearly two years and now has 1,050.

Joe Wright, senior vice president of Briggs & Stratton and president of the Engine Products Group, spoke briefly.

"I know how hard each of you has worked. Don't let up," Wright said. "We have a long way yet to go. We have to carry on to the finish line and make sure we do it right."

Jesse Sumrall, technical services manager, and Marcus Braddock, the new production control manager, led one of the tour groups.

The starting point was large stacks of 2,500-pound aluminum blocks, which are melted. The molten aluminum flows to 25 die cast machines that make the parts for the small engines.

He and Braddock, who recently moved to Poplar Bluff from a Toyota plant in Mississippi, explained how the seven machine lines and the two assembly lines have been changed to improve the plant's efficiency.