Timberline Manufacturing plans expansion in Marion

Timberline Manufacturing in Marion plans to double its production space in the city and add 56 people to its payroll.

The company announced Friday that it wants to build a new 85,000-square-foot production space at 1029 Blairs Ferry Rd., adjacent to its current headquarters and production building. There also would be room for a future 13,500-square-foot addition, if needed, according to a presentation Timberline made to the Marion City Council earlier this month.

Timberline would add the 56 new jobs during the next three years. It currently employs 165 people.

President Greg Ervin said the company needs the expansion to meet projected demand from its customers.

“A majority of our business is coming from the mining world, the construction world, whether that is road construction or new equipment construction. When we look at our customer forecasts, many of them give us forecasts for 12 to 18 months, they all in those worlds are increasing pretty dramatically,” he said in an interview.

Started in 1993, Timberline makes circuit board assemblies, control panels and wire harnesses for a range of companies that includes Rockwell Collins in Cedar Rapids, Crystal Group in Hiawatha and Iowa-based agricultural equipment makes Vermeer and Kinze Manufacturing.

Timberline expects to spend $12.8 million on the project, but said the expansion is dependent upon financial assistance from the city of Marion and Iowa Economic Development Authority. Both will review Timberline’s request late next week.

If the project moves forward, Ervin said construction could start in April and hopefully finish by the end of the year.

Timberline would look at whether to vacate its current space and sell or lease it to a different business, he said.

l Comments: (319) 398-8366; matthew.patane@thegazette.com