LEE/ROWAN CELEBRATES NINTH PLANT EXPANSION

JACKSON -- There's a lot of activity at the Lee-Rowan manufacturing facility at Jackson these days.

"We're shifting warehousing space to make room for new equipment and employees," said Constance H. Conrad, vice president marketing services for the firm headquartered in St. Louis.

Conrad joined a group of Lee-Rowan officials including chairman of the board E. Desmond Lee here Wednesday for the dedication of a new 93,000 square foot addition to the firm's facility.

"This is our ninth expansion here," said Lee, who presided at the dedication ceremony. "When we first opened a facility here 28 years ago nobody would have thought we would be celebrating a ninth expansion here in 1992. We have become great partners with Jackson."

The new building is located on the southeast corner of the present facility, which now totals 557,000 square feet under roof, noted Lee. The structure will house more than $3.5 million in new equipment, including a Powder Coater, for manufacturing epoxy-coated ventilated wire the company's flagship product.

On hand at the dedication were city and state officials, including Jackson Mayor Carlton Meyer, Paul Sander, president of Jackson Chamber of Commerce; and Missouri Rep. David Schwab. Lee-Rowan officials included Jack Schwettman, vice president and plant manager at Jackson; Richard D. Rogers, president and Gary Lee, vice president and CEO.

Also on hand were hundreds of company employees, including 46 associates with more than 20 years service. Lee introduced Mary Lou Schwendemann of St. Louis, and Wayne Brim of Jackson, as associated with most services with the company.

Bill Emerson, 8th District representative, was scheduled to be guest speaker, but was tied up in Washington to work with a petition to hasten a balanced budget amendment to a vote in the house.

"Rep. Emerson sends his congratulations," said Lloyd Smith, a spokesman from the local office.

Also sending a letter of congratulations was Gov. John Ashcroft, who was out of the state Wednesday.

"We are well on our way to meeting our sales goal of $100 million," said Lee. "Our 1991 sales were the best in the 52-year history of the company, despite uncertainty and fluctuation in the economy."

Lee/Rowan was founded in 1939 by Edgar D. Lee and John V. Rowan. The company's first products were trouser creasers, which were sold to Sears and JCPenney.

Retail products now include wood, metal and plastic hangers, door/wall shoe racks and accessories, bath furniture and organizers, bulk shelving and a number of storage systems.

In addition to sales to Sears, JCPenney, Wal-Mart, Kmart, Venture and others, products have been introduced in world markets, sending them into Canada, United Kingdom, Mexico, South America, Germany and other foreign countries.

The new addition at Jackson will result in another 75 employees at the Jackson plant.

"We're in the process of adding new workers now," said Conrad. "We'll be adding about 75 here, and another 25 at our St. Louis operation, giving us a total of more than 1,100 workers, with over 750 at Jackson."