Palmer-Donavin and Heartland Steel Products announce investments in Ohio
By Terry Troy
Two manufacturers, one a manufacturer of custom warehouse solutions, the other a leader in building materials distribution and door fabrication, have announced plans to invest almost $1.5 million to existing operations in Ohio. Heartland Steel is investing $650,000 to expand production capacity at its facility in Harrison near Cincinnati, while Palmer-Donavin is investing $800,000 to expand manufacturing operations in Union Township near Columbus.
“As we learn how to successfully navigate the tumultuous waters of ‘the new normal’ brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, Heartland Steel Products is happy to share that we are hiring approximately 30 new employees and adding 10,000 square feet to our existing footprint in Harrison, Ohio,” said Danielle Lyons-Paris, a representative of Heartland Steel Products. “This unprecedented growth is due in part to the recent boom of e-commerce and the expansion of third party logistics facilities that dot the landscape of the United States and beyond.”
Heartland is a manufacturer of custom warehouse solutions.
Heartland made the decision to focus its resources in the city of Harrison thanks to its superior access to highways, closer proximity to clients, and space at the site for continued growth. In 2010, Heartland purchased the Harrison facility from Torbek Industries. The company also has operations in Lodi, California and Marysville, Michigan.
Heartland has more than doubled its headcount in Harrison since mid-2020 and is looking to fill additional unfilled positions immediately. Open positions include industrial painters, welders, material handlers, customer service representatives and supervisors
“The amount of goods that are sold online continues to grow, with some estimates predicting that e-commerce will make up more than 25% of retail goods sold by 2025,” said Kimm Lauterbach, REDI Cincinnati president and CEO. “The Cincinnati region is benefitting from this evolution, with Heartland being the latest example. As demand for warehouse solutions rises, we look forward to Heartland continuing to grow in the region.”
Heartland attributed the increased demand for its storage solutions to the rise in eCommerce and growing logistics and distribution activity, in part fueled by the pandemic. Heartland’s Harrison facility now houses production for its full line of products, making it easy for companies to source equipment from a single location and save on freight costs. Walmart, Target, and Menards are among the retailers that use Heartland products for their warehouse equipment needs.
“Ohio’s strong economic comeback continues! Heartland Steel Products’ investment demonstrates how Ohio’s manufacturing talent and supply chain advantage is continuing to push our economy past the pandemic and toward sustained growth,” said J.P. Nauseef, JobsOhio president and CEO. “We look forward to partnering with Heartland Steel as it continues to expand in Ohio and grow its North American presence.”
For its part, Palmer-Donavin, a leader in building material distribution and door fabrication, plans to add a second shift of workers at its facility, to meet growing customer demand for its products. The company is putting its investment toward facility improvements and machinery
and equipment, allowing it to increase distribution capacity, reduce lead times, improve efficiency and better position the facility to meet growing product demand for entry doors.
“With the tremendous growth we experienced in 2020, expanding our door fabrication operations in the Columbus Region is critical to the future success of our company,” said Robyn Pollina, Palmer-Donavin president and CEO. “By investing in a second shift at our Union Township facility and increasing our Ohio workforce, Palmer-Donavin will be building upon the impressive momentum we’ve created over the past year.”
Founded in 1907, Palmer-Donavin’s commitment to providing quick and convenient service, a great selection of top brands for their dealers, as well as building high levels of expertise among their staff, has helped it establish an enduring business foothold in the Columbus Region and beyond. The company currently operates seven additional facilities in the Midwest, servicing 10 states.
“We are excited to expand our operation to an evening shift,” said Tom Rodgers, Palmer-Donavin talent acquisition manager. “The new shift will open up opportunities to those who are seeking hours outside of our traditional dayshift.”
Home to over 1,700 manufacturing establishments with nearly 90,000 employees, the Columbus Region represents the future of new manufacturing. The local manufacturing sector spans industries such as automotive, retail and consumer goods, boasting a highly skilled workforce available to meet companies’ hiring demands. Union Township is located in Licking County, which is home to an estimated 176,862 residents.
“Palmer-Donavin’s expansion is further evidence of Ohio’s economic momentum as we emerge from the pandemic, demonstrating the optimism we are seeing in our manufacturing sector,” added Nauseef. “This project will bring 20 new advanced manufacturing jobs and strengthen Palmer-Donavin’s presence in the Columbus Region, where the company first established its operations.”
