MECO recently opened the doors of its new 80,000 ft2 manufacturing headquarters in Mandeville, La. The state-of-the-art facility created 127 new direct jobs, 168 new indirect jobs and retained 81 current positions.
The new facility allows the company to better meet the demands of its customers in various industries worldwide while also maintaining a commitment to lean manufacturing, energy efficiency and environmental preservation. According to MECO chief executive officer George Gsell, the new manufacturing plant is built for efficiency with sustainability in mind. “This new facility is designed to be the premier machining and fabrication plant in the Gulf South, allowing us to significantly increase our production capacity while also improving our effectiveness,” he said.
Project of the year
The facility, which was recently named Economic Development Expansion Project of the year by Louisiana’s St. Tammany Parish Economic Development Foundation, features:
- Recycling of process water that reduces the demand for make-up water and eliminates process water disposal
- High efficiency lighting that improves illumination by 65% and decreases electricity usage for lighting by 40%
- State-of-the-art-heating, ventilating and air conditioning systems in production areas that improve product quality and workforce productivity
- Electric forklifts that eliminate the need for fuel while also allowing for less noise, reduced maintenance and zero tailpipe emissions
- A campus featuring indigenous plants, 83 native live oaks and water habitats to support wildlife activity
- Location on the Tammany Trace, a wildlife conservation area that spans 28 miles and gives employees access to a greater use of the outdoors.
MECO builds water purification systems essential to the pharmaceutical, oil and gas, defense, and food and beverage industries. After Hurricane Katrina destroyed its facility, tools and inventory, the company established new locations in Sugar Land, Texas, and Mandeville, La.
