Ramsey/ Minneapolis , 9/30/2015
State-of-the-art wall panel plant.
Investment to expand production capacity.
At Molin, the first considerations to invest in expanded production capacity started to take shape in 2011. The process began to approach several suppliers, and company representatives also traveled to Europe to investigate different possibilities. The year was 2013 when Molin awarded the contract to Weckenmann to design and manufacture the plant – after a thorough evaluation process. First deliveries started the end of 2014, and installation and commissioning already took place in the first half of 2015.
Grand opening on September 24, 2015
The operation culminated in the “Grand Opening” on September 24, 2015.
Several hundred invited customers, suppliers, representatives of the city and the region as well as business partners of Molin came to witness the Event.
The factory was opened under production conditions, presenting all the guests with an up close and personal picture of the modern precast concrete plant. The guests were taken on a guided tour of the plant and could see live how the large wall panels were partially manufactured in sandwich construction. The teamwork between production management and the plant operator saw the plant ramped up in no time, and the product quality of the precast concrete parts greatly impressed the visitors.
Up next is the setting up of a processing line for the production of precast concrete parts with architectural surfaces. The plans are to produce colored, washed (exposed aggregates) and sand-blasted elements. For this purpose Weckenmann supplied a curve-tracked monorail system to handle facade elements weighing up to 25 tons.
All visitors were impressed by the new plant, which Molin has taken into operation at exactly the right time. The American precast concrete industry is in a growth phase and the Molin plant will certainly attract much attention in the industry.
This was confirmed unanimously by all the visitors who had the opportunity to share their impressions of the day over a typical American buffet.