Pumpmaker starting move from Wis. to La.

MONROE, La. - Pump and compressor maker Gardner Denver Thomas Inc. is moving a new production line every two weeks from Wisconsin to Louisiana, while the city of Monroe is advertising for bids to expand the plant there.

Dec. 31 is the target date for adding 80,000 square feet to the plant, a project for which the city put up $4 million and the Ouachita Economic Development Land Corp. $1 million.

Facility manager Robert Ransom says that may be a stretch, but it's good to try for it.

He says two people have transferred from Sheboygan, Wis., where the company is closing a plant that had 366 employees, and seven more are doing so.

The Monroe plant had 77 employees before the Thomas Division was consolidated. Ransom sys it eventually will have 275.

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On the Net:

http://www.gd-thomas.com/

http://www.gardnerdenver.com/

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Information from: The News-Star, http://www.thenewsstar.com

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