Legacy Manufacturing considers expansion

After celebrating with a ribbon cutting at the opening of its new location in Marion, Legacy Manufacturing Company is considering an expansion to its recently completed facility, thanks to continued growth and success in re-shoring U.S. manufacturing processes.

As an international company headquartered in the Marion Enterprise Center at 6509 Partners Avenue in Marion and a division of Weems Industries, Legacy completed its 133,000 sq. ft. facility in 2016. The new warehouse expansion would add 200,000 sq. ft. to Legacy’s existing location with capital investment estimated at $12 million. The expansion project is contingent upon regulatory approval and governmental approval of financial assistance.

The Marion City Council will consider approval and local match of an application to the Iowa Economic Development Authority at its August 17 meeting at 5:30 p.m.

Legacy has been serving various markets since 1986, offering a wide-range of professional grade service and maintenance equipment for automotive, industrial, contractor, agricultural and marine markets throughout North America.

The expansion would continue to support Legacy’s plans to re-shore many of its proprietary products, including the Flexzilla brand of air hose.

Legacy’s Flexzilla branded hose products have also opened up vastly in the lawn and garden and outdoor power categories, leading to robust growth for the company. Customers in America include: Farm stores TSC to Theisen’s; auto part stores including NAPA to O’Reilly; industrial distributors Grainger to McMaster-Carr; tool and equipment distributors Snap-On to MAC Tools; hardware chains True Value to Do-It-Best;

Menards and Sears.

R. Mark Weems, president of Legacy, says “Legacy is committed to the continued development of superior products designed and produced in Eastern Iowa. Our products must exceed the expectations of our customers because when you lead the industry with great quality products like Flexzilla, customers learn to trust your brand and become very loyal.”

“This expansion consideration is not just good for Marion, it’s good for Iowa,” says Nick Glew, President of Marion Economic Development Corporation. “Reshoring manufacturing processes and jobs is a complex endeavor. We are pleased to see plans for a project that would benefit multiple Iowa communities, drive relationships with other Iowa companies, and support Legacy’s aggressive growth strategy that could turn the Flexzilla products into a dominant nationwide brand.”

Pending approval of the state application, the anticipated construction could begin this fall. The expansion is expected to create 13 new jobs over the next three years. Legacy currently has 58 employees in Marion.