MARSHALLTOWN marks largest acquisition in company history | News, Sports, Jobs

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO — Joe Carter, MARSHALLTOWN president and CEO, shakes palms with El Jensen, vice chairman of buyer relations for WAL-BOARD TOOLS throughout a product overview in Lengthy Seaside, Calif. MARSHALLTOWN bought the drywall instruments producer within the largest acquisition in its firm historical past, including almost 200 jobs to its Midwest services.

Practically 200 jobs might be created between two Midwest services following MARSHALLTOWN’s acquisition of a drywall instruments producer.

The acquisition of Wallboard Instrument Co. (WAL-BOARD TOOLS) marks the biggest acquisition in firm historical past, including about 300 merchandise, in addition to essentially the most vital workforce and gross sales will increase so far.

“WAL-BOARD TOOLS has been a worthy competitor for greater than 75 years,” stated Joe Carter, president & CEO of MARSHALLTOWN. “We’ve joined forces to supply our prospects with the broadest assortment of the best high quality and most revolutionary drywall instruments on the earth.”

The Lengthy Seaside, Calif.-based producer was established by Mel Masterson in 1946 because the “first in drywall instruments.” His son, John Masterson, later took the reins as the corporate president. Drywall grew in recognition throughout this time, finally turning into the favored various to plaster.

MARSHALLTOWN plans to combine the merchandise into its current catalog. Manufacturing and distribution operations start this week on the Marshalltown, Iowa and Fayetteville, Ark. services.

“It’s a joyful day for me,” stated El Jensen, vice chairman of buyer relations for WAL-BOARD TOOLS. “MARSHALLTOWN is dedicated to the longer term and positioned for progress. We couldn’t be going to a greater firm.”

Jensen, who earned the moniker “Mr. Drywall” throughout his 60-plus years at WAL-BOARD TOOLS, is taken into account a high {industry} professional. Jensen and Craig Glenn, vice chairman of gross sales for WAL-BOARD TOOLS, hung out on the Marshalltown, Iowa headquarters in September. The journey concerned two days of hands-on coaching with workers with each WAL-BOARD and MARSHALLTOWN instruments.

Jensen and Glenn, who’ve traveled the nation seeing many manufacturing companies, stated the MARSHALLTOWN services and manufacturing innovation and automation are unmatched. Jensen stated he wished there was a stronger phrase than “state-of-the-art” to explain what he noticed.

“It’s even past that,” Jensen stated. “The robotics, the expertise, the staff who’re so educated and revolutionary. It’s utterly overwhelming — in a great way.”

Teams of MARSHALLTOWN workers have spent the final 9 weeks touring backwards and forwards to Lengthy Seaside getting ready for the large addition to its already bustling manufacturing services. MARSHALLTOWN manufactures industry-leading development instruments and tools for numerous industries together with concrete, masonry, asphalt, flooring, portray and extra. Its instruments could be present in main {hardware} retailers in the USA and all over the world. MARSHALLTOWN launched its drywall instruments within the late Sixties, Carter stated.

Prior to now 12 years, MARSHALLTOWN has acquired 10 firms whereas sustaining a rare tempo of recent product growth. The producer has developed and launched greater than 280 new merchandise up to now two years.

With the corporate’s great progress and success, Carter is fast to level to the sturdy basis of firm’s predecessors and unimaginable group members.

“MARSHALLTOWN was a powerful firm lengthy earlier than I ever confirmed up,” Carter stated. “Our firm progress and energy throughout the 35 years I’ve labored right here have been resulting from that sturdy basis and all of the drive and fervour our group members have needed to be the very best in our {industry}. We’re celebrating our successes, however we’re additionally driving to get higher daily. It’s a mindset and we simply gained’t accept doing issues the identical as final yr.”

The newest acquisition joins two firms with longtime commitments to American manufacturing, who additionally share an analogous buyer base. As MARSHALLTOWN expands its presence and market share within the drywall {industry}, it solidifies its place because the world-leader in drywall instruments.

“It’s the right marriage,” Carter stated. “That is first in drywall instruments meets greatest in high quality and innovation.”

Creating almost 200 manufacturing and workplace positions between the 2 MARSHALLTOWN places is one other thrilling facet of the acquisition, Carter stated. The bottom beginning wage for somebody on the manufacturing ground is at present $20 per hour, however that wage could be greater relying upon expertise and necessities. Compensation for workplace positions might be very aggressive as nicely, he stated.

“The usually-overlooked byproduct of thriving companies is folks,” Carter stated. “The neighborhood grows with nice jobs but in addition the good folks — and the households — these jobs entice.”

John Corridor, president and CEO of the Marshalltown Space Chamber of Commerce, stated he agrees.

“Anytime we add extra job alternatives to the Marshalltown neighborhood it’s a win,” Corridor stated. “MARSHALLTOWN has a powerful file of using people who find themselves engaged in the neighborhood and assist develop our neighborhood.”

MARSHALLTOWN, established in 1890, opened a 60,000 sq. foot growth of producing house at its Marshalltown, Iowa headquarters earlier this yr. It continues will proceed to reinvest in its expertise, tools, services, and folks, Carter stated.