Marine
Mercury Marine Breaks Ground on New Oshkosh Manufacturing Facility
OSHKOSH, Wis. (September 1, 2006) - Mercury Marine, the world's leading
manufacturer of recreational marine propulsion engines, announced today it
will be keeping jobs in Oshkosh when it opens a new manufacturing and
warehouse facility here in early 2007.
Ground was broken this week on the approximately 100,000 square foot
facility, being built on a 10-acre site on the northwest corner of Oakwood
Road and Atlas Avenue. Chamco, the Oshkosh industrial development
corporation, will be constructing the building for Mercury, under its nationally
recognized Industrial Building Program.
The company will transfer approximately 15 jobs to the site from its existing
manufacturing facility along the Fox River on Marion Road and from an exhibits
design and warehouse facility in Fond du Lac.
"We're very excited Mercury decided to relocate its Oshkosh manufacturing
operations in the city's Southwest Industrial Park," said Jackson Kinney, City
of Oshkosh director of community development. "Not only does it keep jobs in
the community, but gives Mercury the flexibility to grow its business in the
future."
Following over a year of negotiations, the City of Oshkosh Redevelopment
Authority acquired one of Mercury's existing Marion Road plants in late March,
2006. The plant, which occupies approximately six acres of land on the Fox
River, is part of the city's Marion Road/Pearl Avenue Redevelopment Area.
"Mercury Remanufacturing is proud to call Oshkosh home," said Ray
Atchinson, general manager of Mercury's Remanufacturing business, based in
Oshkosh. "In 1999, we set out to create the remanufacturing business to
renew and remanufacture Mercury engines for our customers. We've been
very successful here and look to continue to grow our business in a new,
larger facility."
Mercury's new facility will be approximately 40,000 square feet larger than its
existing facility, according to Doug Pearson, executive director of
Chamco. "We are pleased to work so closely in partnership with the City of
Oshkosh and a client of the quality of Mercury Marine to retain an important
industry in our community and enhance their future growth in Oshkosh," he
said. By building a larger facility, Mercury will be able to combine operations
from two different facilities into one.
"Mercury has been a very good partner during this process," Kinney
stated. "While the company did not initiate the sale of their property, they
recognized the community's desire to redevelop the waterfront and worked
closely with us to make the land available. We believe the future benefits
from redeveloping the waterfront will bring greater prosperity to Oshkosh and
its citizens."
Mercury Marine is the world's leading manufacturer of recreational marine
propulsion engines. A $2.6 billion division of Brunswick Corporation (NYSE:
BC), Mercury and its 7,000 employees worldwide provide engines, boats,
services and parts for recreational, commercial and government marine
applications. Mercury's industry-leading brand portfolio includes Mercury and
Mariner outboard engines; Mercury MerCruiser sterndrives and inboard
engines; MotorGuide trolling motors; Teignbridge propellers; MotoTron
electronic controls; Mercury inflatable boats; Mercury SmartCraft electronics;
and Mercury and Quicksilver parts and oils. Mercury Marine's OptiMax engine
was ranked highest in customer satisfaction in 2006 by J.D. Power and
Associates for direct-fuel-injected outboard engines, and Mercury MerCruiser
sterndrive engines were ranked highest by J.D. Power in customer satisfaction
for sterndrive engines. More information is available at
www.mercurymarine.com.
Mercury Marine, Mercury and the Mercury Marine logo are trademarks of
Mercury Marine and Brunswick Corporation.
CONTACT:
Steven Goldsmith
Mercury Marine
Phone: 920-924-1360
Email: steven.goldsmith@mercmarine.com
Jackson Kinney
City of Oshkosh
Director of Community Development
Phone: 920-236-5055
Douglas C. Pearson
Chamco, Inc. OIDC
Executive Director
Phone: 920-232-9786
Email: dpearson@chamco.org
