NELA USA relocating to River Falls

NELA USA, a manufacturer of register punching and bending machines and machines for offset printing plates, is relocating to River Falls from Oakdale, Minn., following the acquisition of a 53,000 square foot facility in the Whitetail Ridge Corporate Park. The facility will integrate NELA’s engineering, production and customer service functions.

“We are very happy to become part of the River Falls manufacturing community and we believe Wisconsin’s business climate will be very helpful to our future growth,” says David Klein, president of NELA USA.

The parent company of NELA is based in Lahr, Germany. NELA expanded into the United States in 2000 by merging with the former Ternes Register Systems in suburban St. Paul, Minn. Through the purchase of the Ternes assets, NELA became the largest manufacturer of punch and bending systems. NELA also has an operation in Asia to serve those markets.

NELA’s systems have been installed at over 250 locations, including the New York Times, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Star Tribune and Dow Jones & Company. NELA’s operations in the U.S., Germany and Asia make it the largest technologist and state-of-the-art manufacturer of plate automation and register systems in the world.

NELA will purchase the former Hal’s Millwork facility, which closed earlier this year. The building includes 6.8 acres and will accommodate future additions. Following internal improvements, including the addition of more office space, NELA USA will occupy the building in late summer.

“I welcome NELA USA to River Falls,” said Mayor Don Richards. “Their inclusion in Whitetail Park, in an existing building, saves us precious land in the park and builds the potential for increased employment at the same time. They will be a nice fit among the park’s corporate tenants.”

St. Croix Economic Development Corporation worked extensively with NELA concerning its relocation to St. Croix County.

Silver Spring Foods purchases Pennsylvania horseradish company

Eau Claire-based Silver Spring Foods has purchased Kelchner’s Horseradish Products of Dublin, Pa., to augment Bookbinder’s Foods, which they bought in 1999. The goal is to blend the strengths of two horseradish brands well known along the Atlantic seaboard, according to Ed Schaefer, Silver Spring Foods CEO and president.

Schaefer says Kelchner’s Horseradish Products will remain in Dublin, with the previous owner remaining as president. The company employs 17 people full time and up to 30 during peak selling periods at its existing two facilities.

“Kelchner’s refrigerated product line made with fresh ingredients complements our Bookbinder’s line of shelf-stable condiments and both well known companies will continue with a strong presence in the Northeastern markets,” Schaefer says. “The acquisition just makes sense for growing our condiment business. Kelchner’s shares our business philosophy, family values and vision for growth.”

Silver Spring Foods Inc., is celebrating 80 years as a family-owned business.

BUSINESS BRIEFS

PORT WING: More than $123 million in water and environmental projects are being funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, including a new project in the town of Port Wing in Bayfield County. The town has been selected to receive $1.142 million to provide funding for a new wastewater treatment facility for its residents, replacing a 40- year-old deteriorated existing treatment facility. The Army Corp of Engineers has also awarded funding for the project.

SUPERIOR: Enbridge Energy will begin construction this month on two pipelines. When completed, the 1,000-mile long “Alberta Clipper” pipeline will have the capacity to transport 450,000 barrels per day from Alberta’s oil sands to the Superior terminal. The 188-mile “Southern Lights” pipeline will transport light hydrocarbons from Clearbrook, Minn., to Superior. The light hydrocarbons are used to thin the Canadian heavy crude.