Manufacturer plans open house
FORREST – An area metal fabrication and manufacturing business which started in a farm tool shed is celebrating 25 years in business.
Slagel Manufacturing, located between Forrest and Strawn at 2911 North 2700 East, will hold an open house on Friday, June 8 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. This includes a free lunch and tours open to the public.
Company president Mark Slagel started out making hog gates and gestation stalls for local building contractors years ago and the business grew from there.
“I had worked for another company that did welding and manufacturing for several years,” Slagel recalled. “I lost my job there and I always liked that line of work.”
Slagel eventually put up a heated shop and worked there until 2001 before relocating to the current location. The business typically employs 40-50 people and winter is the busiest time of year. Slagel Manufacturing expanded in recent years to develop its own product line. The ag equipment is being marketed as Vulcan Equipment.
You could say the company’s success is due to word-of-mouth advertising. Slagel has enjoyed the relationships he has developed with customers and vendors during the past 25 years. The upcoming open house gives the business a chance to celebrate its accomplishments while showing area residents what goes on behind the doors each day.
“We also just put in a new piece of equipment we kind of wanted to show off and let the community be a little more aware of what we do,” Slagel added.