Marmen Energy starts expansion, plans to add 50 jobs
June 6, 2023
Marmen Energy broke ground today on an expansion that will include about 50 new jobs.
The Canada-based wind tower manufacturer has its only U.S. manufacturing site in the Rovang Industrial Park in Brandon.
The 15,000-square-foot addition will bring the overall facility to about 260,000 square feet.
“We will be using it mainly for welding — manual welding processes,” plant manager Danny Lueders said, adding that the federal Inflation Reduction Act last year “greatly increased the immediate demand and the demand in the next 10 years in the wind energy segment, and there’s a lot of private sector demand for renewable energy, which is driving overall demand in the market.”
The 250-person Marmen team looks to add 50 team members mostly in welding roles, with some support staff.
“The market is tough. There is no denying that skilled welders are always in demand,” Lueders said. “On a micro level of Sioux Falls, there is constant competition for it, and we offer good wages, great benefits, good schedules, and we’re family-owned, so we try to promote the culture here.”
The company also does a lot of outreach with high schools and technical colleges, he said. That includes offering high schoolers internships.
“Some of their duties are extremely limited, but they can at least get exposed to the manufacturing world at that point,” he said.
Wind towers manufactured at Marmen are sold to original equipment manufacturers, which then sell them to utility companies. In an attempt to control the high cost of transporting them, most of the wind towers are delivered to about eight states surrounding South Dakota.
The hope is to be finished with building the addition and fully operational by October, Lueders said. Hiring for the new positions has started.
Marmen began operating in South Dakota 10 years ago.
“We are grateful to the people of Brandon and the surrounding communities for their unwavering support over the past 10 years,” president Patrick Pellerin said in a statement. “Their support along with the partnerships we’ve built with various tech schools and organizations have been crucial to our growth and success. As part of this community, we remain committed to investing in workforce development and advancing the manufacturing industry. We look forward to continuing to work with the community to promote sustainable energy solutions.”
Nearly full, Brandon industrial park brings new jobs amid community growth
