Baldwin again looking to grow; big expansion put on hold in 2008 back in the works
Name: Baldwin Filters
Kearney Location: 4400 E. Highway 30
Plant Manager: Sam Ferrise
Established: Founded in 1936. J.A. Baldwin moved his operations from Wisconsin to Kearney in February 1953. Following a fire that destroyed its first plant, which was in the former Kearney Air Base engineering building, Baldwin opened its new plant in May 1968. In 1981, Baldwin Manufacturing Co. was sold to the J.L. Clark Manufacturing Co. of Rockford, Ill., for $46 million.
Kearney Employees: Approximately 800
Product line/business activity: Oil, air and fuel filter elements for combustion engines. Manufactures and sells more than 6,000 filter products to fit over-the-road commercial vehicles, off-road construction, mining and logging equipment, and industrial, agricultural, marine, aeronautic and automotive applications.
Ownership: Clarcor, Franklin, Tenn.; trades on the New York Stock Exchange. Ticker symbol is CLC.
Plant Expansion in Yankton Could Add 70 Jobs
Baldwin Filters is planning an expansion project at its manufacturing facility in Yankton, SD. The company plans to break ground on the project in September 2011.
The filter manufacturer expects to add over 100,000 square feet to its existing 170,000 sq. ft. building. The expansion will allow the addition of a heavy-duty spin-on filter line.
Baldwin Filters expects to add up to 70 positions in the Yankton facility over the next several years in support of the new manufacturing processes.
"The expansion project will support continued domestic and export market growth in demand for heavy-duty lube, fuel, hydraulic and coolant filtration products," said Sam Ferrise, Baldwin Filters President.
"I'm extremely pleased that Baldwin Filters has decided to expand its operations in South Dakota," added Gov. Dennis Daugaard. "The company has been a solid member of the Yankton community since 1995, and I look forward to its continued success and growth in the future."
