Central States Manufacturing Expanding to South Dakota

Central States Manufacturing Inc. in Lowell is expanding its footprint with the announcement of a new facility in Hartford, S.D.

CSM, a manufacturer and distributor of metal building components, plans to build a manufacturing plant on 10 acres in Hartford.

The new location will be the company’s sixth manufacturing facility. CSM spokesman Brian Farrell said the 40,000-SF, single-story structure is expected to be complete by February 2013.

CSM also operates facilities in Michigan City, Ind., Ceder Hill, Texas, Jasper, Ala., and Mount Airy, N.C.

The company’s most recent expansion was in July 2010 with the opening of the Mount Airy plant, and sales revenues topped $194 million that year.

Donna Leger (pronounced la-zhay), president of CSM, said in a news release the decision to head to South Dakota was based on the region’s projected growth and its focus on agriculture.

“In order … for us to extend our delivery service north, an additional manufacturing facility was needed,” she said. “We are excited about this opportunity and look forward to supporting the growth of the Northern Great Plains and the community of Hartford.”

The population of Hartford, according to the 2010 census, was 2,534. The expansion will add up to 40 local employees and increase CSM’s workforce to just more than 400.

CSM, founded in 1988 and employee-owned, has more than 2,000 post-frame, residential, commercial and architectural customers in the United States.

It manufactures metal panels, trim, gutters and purlins for the metal building and roofing industry and the post-frame building market.