Quaker Windows and Doors has set its sights on innovation and production by announcing a $10 million investment to expand the company’s Freeburg, Mo., manufacturing facility. Officials report the investments include a 100,000-square-foot addition to the door and window manufacturer’s facility and a new engineering and innovation center.
The center will focus on new product design and development, certified product testing and equipment design and fabrication. At the same time, the added space will increase production capacity and pave the way for new wood product offerings, officials said. The projects are expected to be completed by March 2024.
Officials say the expansion will generate more than 50 new jobs with the support of the Missouri Department of Economic Development through its Missouri Works program.
“We’re thrilled to announce this significant investment in our manufacturing capabilities and the creation of our Engineering and Innovation Center,” says CEO Kevin Blansett. “This expansion will allow us to serve our customers better, continue to bring innovation to the market and increase our product offering. We’re grateful for the support of the Missouri Department of Economic Development and its Missouri Works program and look forward to successful project completion in 2024.”
The news follows a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Quaker’s Eldon, Mo., campus in October 2022. The campus expansion introduced the new Eldon II facility, adding 250,000 square feet of commercial manufacturing capacity next to the existing plant. The new facility became fully operational in September 2022, says Bill Sifflard, chief marketing officer.
It features an automated window wall line, an oversized robotic glass management system with Hegla automated cutters, a robotic oversized insulating glass (IG) line to support large window and door glass, automated IG lines, several new automated window and door production lines that utilize robotics and enhanced product testing and quality control.
