Terramac adds to manufacturing capacity

Terramac, a Sugar Grove, Illinois-based maker of rubber-tracked crawler carriers, has expanded its production capacity with the commissioning of a new assembly facility in St. Louis.

The company, which opened its new Sugar Grove headquarters near Chicago last year, says the new industrial space will allow it to deliver an increasing number of machines for the North American and international markets.

“It’s an exciting time for Terramac,” says Warner Fencl, vice president with the St. Louis-based CK Power Family of Companies, parent company of Terramac. “We took an existing older, shuttered 100,000 square foot complex located on eight acres in an industrial area of North St Louis and are returning it to manufacturing.”

Fencl adds, “We designed the facility for efficiency and productivity, with the ability to quickly change over from one model to another as demand necessitates.”

The assembly plant, scheduled to begin operations later this month, will start with two production lines, each with a production capacity of 250 crawler carriers per year and with room for expansion, according to the company.

The facility has more than 275 tons of overhead crane lift capacity designed to handle multiple assembly requirements. When fully operational, the St. Louis plant “will complement the existing Terramac production to allow Terramac to meet the growing demand for its crawler carriers,” the firm says.

“We are excited about revitalizing the plant facility, as well as the neighboring area,” says J.J. Costello, vice president with CK Power. “Our plans to ultimately hire more than 100 employees over the next couple of years, drawing from the local workforce, will help support our goals for the company and the community.”

Terramac calls its straight frame and rotating crawler carriers the most versatile machines on the market. Matt Slater, vice president with Terramac, says, “We work closely with our North American dealer network to engineer crawler carriers for many different industries and uses. With a variety of sizes, rotational capabilities and extended frame options, the potential uses of Terramac crawler carriers are endless, and the new facility allows us to adjust production as needed.”

John L. Coughlin, president and CEO of Plant City, Florida-based equipment dealer Linder Industrial Machinery has been working with Terramac for more than six years and says he agrees with Slater. “We have used Terramac crawler carriers in so many configurations for our customers," he says. "There have been times when keeping up with demand has been more challenging, especially with the nationwide shortages, so it is great to see Terramac taking control of its production. Terramac’s progressive approach will ensure we have access to the carriers we need to adequately equip our customers.”

Terramac's crawler carriers are used in numerous applications, including construction, landfill management environmental restoration and reclamation, renewable energy, forestry and several others.