Monday, Sept. 12, 2011L&M Radiator, Inc. has completed the expansion of its Yankton, SD, plant that it leases from Yankton Area Progressive Growth. The expansion doubles the manufacturing space from 40,000 to 80,000 square feet. L&M Radiator manufactures heavy-duty radiators and heat exchangers sold under the brand name “MESABI®.” Dan Chisholm, company President, said the expansion makes Yankton the company’s largest manufacturing facility. Included is an investment of $1.5 million by L&M in new equipment and a state-of-the art painting facility. Chisholm said L&M currently employs 89 at the Yankton plant and with the expansion now has an immediate need for several new employees and more by the end of the year. Open positions are in manufacturing and assembly area, and two in the warehouse. Chisholm said people interested in applying for the positions could do so online at www.mesabi.com, or apply in person at a plant open house scheduled for Saturday, September 17. “We are very pleased with our decision to locate a plant in Yankton four years ago,” said Chisholm. “The State of South Dakota and the City of Yankton have been very cooperative in helping us locate and expand here, and the work force has quickly learned our manufacturing processes and is highly motivated.” L&M’s Yankton plant was the company’s fourth US plant when it opened in 2007, and sixth in the world. L&M also has plants in Mexico and Australia and is in the process of opening a plant in northern Chile that will serve L&M’s markets in South America. Total L&M employment worldwide is more than 700, according to Chisholm. “Much of what the Yankton plant will manufacture will be cooling packages for Caterpillar equipment,” said Chisholm. “That’s one reason for our investment in a state-of-the-art painting facility. We’ll be going through a lot of yellow paint.” “The Yankton plant open house on Saturday, September 17, will give Yankton area residents a look at what L&M makes, plus give people interested in job openings a chance to learn about what we have to offer employees as a great place to work, and they can apply for a job in person,” said Chisholm. Supervisors will be available to answer questions related to employment opportunities. The open house will take place from 10 AM – 2 PM. Refreshments will be provided. L&M Radiator is family owned and now in its third generation of management. Dan Chisholm’s grandfather co-founded L&M Radiator in 1957. It was acquired soon thereafter by Dan’s father, Alex, who remains active in the business today. The third family member is Dan’s sister, Laura Chisholm Ekholm. Plant headquarters are in Hibbing, Minnesota, on the Mesabi Iron Range - hence the origin of its brand name. The design concept of the MESABI® radiator originated during WWII desert tank warfare when it was discovered British tanks could be disabled with a single bullet hole through the radiator. The radiator the British developed featured individual cooling tubes held in radiator headers by individual rubber seals. The seals allowed damaged tubes to be replaced in the field and often without removing the radiator from the tank. The concept virtually eliminates leaking; MESABI® radiators usually do not need maintenance, other than simple cleaning, for up to 25,000 hours of equipment operation. The L&M MESABI® radiator is now used worldwide in all heavy-duty off-road mobile and stationary equipment. Variations on the design concept include radiators, complete radiator cooling packages, oil coolers, charge air coolers, and tube and shell coolers. According to Chisholm, the majority of its heat exchangers are used in mining, and oil and gas exploration and drilling. -30- For more information: Dan Chisholm, President: 800-346-3500 Laura Chisholm Ekholm: 800-346-3500 Tony Carey, Yankton plant manager: 605-664-8993 (opportunities to interview Yankton plant employees on job satisfaction can be arranged through Tony Carey) Mike Dellinger, Yankton Area Progressive Growth: 605-665-9011 For images of L&M Radiator products: For downloadable high resolution images of L&M products: go to: http://www.mesabi.com/releases.php Or contact: Paul von Goertz: JPG Group, 218-722-7884 (paul@jpgonline.com)