DeWitt, Neb. — Tool manufacturing returned to DeWitt, Nebraska, as Malco Products SBC, celebrated the grand opening of its new production facility on Oct. 19, a decade after the VISE-GRIP factory closed and moved its operations to China in 2008. During the grand opening, Malco also unveiled its new Eagle Grip professional-grade locking pliers that will be manufactured in DeWitt. Tool production began Oct. 22; Eagle Grip will make its official debut at the National Hardware Show in May 2019.

“We are proud to re-open the plant and bring manufacturing jobs back to DeWitt,” said Mardon Quandt, Malco Products president and CEO. “As our company continues to expand, we were looking for an opportunity to add a new locking pliers product to our line-up and sought a location that had the infrastructure that would allow us to ramp up quickly, create jobs and make an impact on the local community. We found all of that and more in DeWitt, and are excited to once again put the skilled workers who live in and around DeWitt back to work.”

“The iconic VISE-GRIP was created in DeWitt nearly 95 years ago in 1924, meaning the closure of the plant in 2008 was so much more than a loss of jobs for this community,” said Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts. “Opening this plant brings great opportunities back to DeWitt and helps build on the community’s legacy of building things and making things. Nebraska is excited to welcome Malco Products to our state, and we appreciate the company’s decision to invest in DeWitt.”

Seven of the new full-time employees hired to start up operations previously worked at the VISE-GRIP factory. Malco plans to add jobs as production increases.

Publication date: 11/28/2018

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