About the Lou-Rich North Plant
The Lou-Rich North Plant resides approximately 4 miles from our main plant on the North side of Albert Lea. The plant is around 50,000 square feet and specializes in large-scale manufactured products such as large weldments, and high-level assembly cells.
Virtually tour the Lou-Rich North Plant in our newest facility video!
We’ve made substantial changes to our Lou-Rich North Plant facility over the past year, primarily driven by the relocation of our sister company, Panels Plus, to a new facility at the end of last year. This move has had a significant impact on our operations and the utilization of space within the Lou-Rich North Plant.
Streamlining Operations
Previously, Panels Plus occupied two-thirds of the North Plant, which limited our ability to optimize the facility’s layout. With their relocation, we gained a considerable amount of space, allowing us to reorganize our work cells more effectively. Notably, we were able to bring over our tube laser machine from our main production facility. This addition has centralized our spray tube work cell and streamlined our welding, packaging, and testing operations into a single, cohesive area. Along with this reorganization, we will also be adding a new work cell for custom assembly of large frame weldments.
Additional & Improved Storage
Another benefit of Panels Plus’ move was the creation of additional storage space for parts that are in the process of being manufactured. We’ve improved our storage capacity by installing new racking and creating a dedicated storage area for our large weldments. This organizational upgrade has enhanced the accessibility of our products and significantly boosted our productivity.
Future Plans for the North Plant
Looking ahead, we have exciting plans to further enhance the North Plant facility. Some of these plans include adding an additional overhead door to the facility. This door will be crucial for the efficient movement of our larger pieces, some of which can be as long as 24 feet. In addition, we are investing in a Combi Lift, which will facilitate the movement of larger weldments and products throughout our facility more easily.
In Summary
The relocation of Panels Plus and the subsequent facility updates at the Lou-Rich North Plant have significantly improved our production capacity and workflow. We’ve streamlined our operations, centralizing key processes and adding a new work cell for custom assembly. The creation of additional storage space has also enhanced product accessibility and boosted productivity. Looking ahead, we have exciting plans to continue enhancing the facility.
