LEE-ROWAN WILL OPEN PLANT IN NEWBERN, TENN., EARLY NEXT YEAR

Lee-Rowan Manufacturing will open a new operation in Newbern, Tenn., in early 1994.

"Newbern's location in northwest Tennessee, north of Dyersburg, means the plant is close enough to two existing plants in Missouri so that all three can coordinate their operations," said Desmond Lee, chairman of the board for Lee-Rowan, which is headquartered in St. Louis and has a large manufacturing facility at Jackson.

"Our associates in the St. Louis and Jackson facilities have done a terrific job in keeping up with the rapidly growing demand for our products," said Ron Moore, vice president of human resources. "However, we recognize the demand that will eventually exceed the capabilities of our existing facilities."

The company manufactures ventilated wire shelving and storage-related products.

"We reviewed 34 cities in several states before selecting Newbern as our latest plant site," said Lee. "We're excited about our new location and look forward to being active in and supportive of the community, just as we are in Jackson and St. Louis."

The company anticipates hiring 100 new associates initially for the new Tennessee plant and estimates employment at the Newbern plant will eventually increase to more than 300. Lee-Rowan plans to have the plant operational on or before January.

The company has purchased a one-level, 252,000-square-foot building at Newbern.

The building, being acquired form Tokheimn, a manufacturer of industrial pumps, is on 22 acres and "is suitable for future expansion as the company needs to grow," said Lee.

Lee-Rowan is a company noted for growth.

When the company moved to Jackson almost 30 years ago, in 1964, it opened with 25 workers in a 49,000-square-foot facility.

The "under-roof" total of the Lee-Rowan manufacturing complex at Jackson now will pass the 635,000-square-foot mark.

"We recently opened a new 80,000-square-foot addition at Jackson," said Constance H. Conrad, vice president of marketing services for the firm. "That marks the 10th expansion of the Jackson plant since it opened almost three decades ago.

Lee-Rowan produces a variety of ventilated wire storage systems, bath furniture and organizers, bulk shelving and other space-saving accessories, with distribution in the U.S., Canada, Japan, United Kingdom, Europe, Caribbean Basin, South America and Mexico.

Lee-Rowan currently employs more than 1,100 people, with about 750 of them at the Jackson plant and the reminder at its St. Louis facility.

The company was founded in 1939 by Edgar D. Lee and John V. Rowan as a manufacturer of metal trouser creasers, which were sold to Sears Roebuck and Co. and JCPenney. The company began its Jackson connection in 1964, when the firm constructed a 49,500-square-foot building and put about 25 people to work.

Four years later the work staff had grown to 70, the company added 42,500 square feet, and the Jackson branch was off and running.

It hasn't stopped since.

The Jackson record of success includes:

1964 Original building constructed, 49,000 square feet.

1969 Expansion, 42,500 square feet.

1970 Expansion, 13,000 square feet.

1972 Expansion, 12,500 square feet.

1983 Expansion, 47,700 square feet.

1985 Expansion, 52,500 square feet.

1987 Expansion, 60,600 square feet.

1988 Expansion, 86,440 square feet.

1990 Expansion, 100,000 square feet.

1992 Expansion, 93,000 square feet.

1993 Expansion, 81,000 square feet.

With the start up of the new plant, the firm will have more than a million square feet under roof.