More than 50 people from the area gathered at Drumco Friday to hear the announcement of 95 new jobs.
The announcement came during the grand opening of the facility which is located in the Clark County Industrial Park in the building formerly known as the Goodrich Building. Barry Winegard, vice-president and chief operating officer for operations, opened by thanking those present.
“The Drumco family offers a debt of gratitude to Clark County,” Winegard sai.
The company recycles and reconditions metal drums and has a facility still in operation in West Memphis. Drumco had operated in the Bryant area until moving to Clark County.
Senator Percy Malone was among those who spoke during the ceremony. Malone said many of those gathered had toured the building, “before the aerospace industry went south.” Malone said he, along with those gathered, were happy to “celebrate the creation of jobs” brought about by Drumco.
Malone cited the organizations that had worked to help bring Drumco to the Industrial Park.
“The significance, besides what it’s going to do for our people, is that it’s a safe environment,” Malone said. “And this company has good benefits and they pay their fair share of taxes for our schools.”
Winegard cited the work of the Drumco family that makes the company successful.
“We share the burden,” he said. “And we share the victory and we share the glory.”
Winegard introduced members of the “Drumco family” and said they have been made welcome in the industrial park.
“What a great place to be,” he said. “If you ever need anything, just ask your neighbor.”
Dennis Long, chairman of the board of the Reusable Industrial Packaging Association, complimented the facility.
“They have, without reservation, the finest reconditioning plant in the US and probably in the world,” Long said.
Long said he has known the family, including Winegard’s father who was very active in the business until his death, for many years. Long said that the elder Winegard had a philosophy about customer service that meant every employee answered the phone with the words, “It’s a great day at Drumco, how may I help you?”
“If the building were burning down, the caller would maybe hear sirens in the background,” Long said. But he predicted that even then, the person answering the phone would say, “It’s a great day at Drumco, how may I help you?”
Long said that he believes in the company and its owners.
“I’m proud to call Barry (Winegard) my friend and Arkadelphia can be proud to have a perfect citizen - Drumco.”
During a tour of the facility, the size of the Clark County building which allows a smoother line of operations was touted as one of the reasons for the move.
Dan Hodson, leader of one of the tours, is operations manager for both the Clark County and the Memphis plants. Hodson pointed out existing cranes in an area of the building that is currently not being utilized by Drumco.
“We don’t want to only recycle drums,” he said. “We want to make our own eventually.”
Hodson called that an item on their company “wish list” and said the addition of that production line is “five or six years down the road.”
The company seeks to avoid the stigma of environmental issues by never stacking barrels on the ground. Any barrel that comes into the company is placed in a trailer until it can be processed, Hodson said.
He walked a group of about 15 through the process line, beginning with an examination. Barrels that aren’t empty are returned to their owners. Those that are suitable for processing are sent on for cleaning, then are checked for leaks and dents. Barrels are then painted, fitted with new lids and sent back for use again.
Hodson said barrels can be recycled three times or more, depending on use, materials put in them and the gauge of the steel used. Barrels that leak or are past being reconditioned are flattened and sent for recycling.
The company also sells new drums, a service Hodson said is a matter of convenience for their customers.
For more information about the company and its services, call 230-8800 or visit www.drumco.com.
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More than 50 people from the area gathered at Drumco Friday to hear the announcement of 95 new jobs.
The announcement came during the grand opening of the facility which is located in the Clark County Industrial Park in the building formerly known as the Goodrich Building. Barry Winegard, vice-president and chief operating officer for operations, opened by thanking those present.
“The Drumco family offers a debt of gratitude to Clark County,” Winegard sai.
The company recycles and reconditions metal drums and has a facility still in operation in West Memphis. Drumco had operated in the Bryant area until moving to Clark County.
Senator Percy Malone was among those who spoke during the ceremony. Malone said many of those gathered had toured the building, “before the aerospace industry went south.” Malone said he, along with those gathered, were happy to “celebrate the creation of jobs” brought about by Drumco.
Malone cited the organizations that had worked to help bring Drumco to the Industrial Park.
“The significance, besides what it’s going to do for our people, is that it’s a safe environment,” Malone said. “And this company has good benefits and they pay their fair share of taxes for our schools.”
Winegard cited the work of the Drumco family that makes the company successful.
“We share the burden,” he said. “And we share the victory and we share the glory.”
Winegard introduced members of the “Drumco family” and said they have been made welcome in the industrial park.
“What a great place to be,” he said. “If you ever need anything, just ask your neighbor.”
Dennis Long, chairman of the board of the Reusable Industrial Packaging Association, complimented the facility.
“They have, without reservation, the finest reconditioning plant in the US and probably in the world,” Long said.
Long said he has known the family, including Winegard’s father who was very active in the business until his death, for many years. Long said that the elder Winegard had a philosophy about customer service that meant every employee answered the phone with the words, “It’s a great day at Drumco, how may I help you?”
“If the building were burning down, the caller would maybe hear sirens in the background,” Long said. But he predicted that even then, the person answering the phone would say, “It’s a great day at Drumco, how may I help you?”
Long said that he believes in the company and its owners.
“I’m proud to call Barry (Winegard) my friend and Arkadelphia can be proud to have a perfect citizen - Drumco.”
During a tour of the facility, the size of the Clark County building which allows a smoother line of operations was touted as one of the reasons for the move.
Dan Hodson, leader of one of the tours, is operations manager for both the Clark County and the Memphis plants. Hodson pointed out existing cranes in an area of the building that is currently not being utilized by Drumco.
“We don’t want to only recycle drums,” he said. “We want to make our own eventually.”
Hodson called that an item on their company “wish list” and said the addition of that production line is “five or six years down the road.”
The company seeks to avoid the stigma of environmental issues by never stacking barrels on the ground. Any barrel that comes into the company is placed in a trailer until it can be processed, Hodson said.
He walked a group of about 15 through the process line, beginning with an examination. Barrels that aren’t empty are returned to their owners. Those that are suitable for processing are sent on for cleaning, then are checked for leaks and dents. Barrels are then painted, fitted with new lids and sent back for use again.
Hodson said barrels can be recycled three times or more, depending on use, materials put in them and the gauge of the steel used. Barrels that leak or are past being reconditioned are flattened and sent for recycling.
The company also sells new drums, a service Hodson said is a matter of convenience for their customers.
For more information about the company and its services, call 230-8800 or visit www.drumco.com.
