May 10, 2004

Summers Manufacturing Co., Inc. Devils Lake, ND Announces Major Expansion.

The success story about Harley Summers, a blacksmith from Maddock , ND , and his wife Viola continues. Harley and Viola Summers started Summers Mfg in 1965 when they purchased the manufacturing rights of the Goebel truck hoist. After diversifying into the manufacture of a heavy spring tooth harrow, the company experienced phenomenal growth in Maddock. Summers Mfg reached a point in 1981 when they needed to tap into the resources of a larger labor market. In that same year the community of Devils Lake encouraged and supported the expansion of Summers Mfg into their new industrial park located on the west side of the city. Growth of our company, our product lines, and our work force has continued since that date. Since 1981, Summers Manufacturing has added additional factory, warehouse, and office space 10 different times (in 1965, 1973, 1976, 1982, 1992, 94, 95, 96, 97, 2000 and 2003).

Larry Summers, President said “Summers Manufacturing Co., Inc is pleased to announce the largest expansion in our company’s nearly 40 year history.” “Today, our company is breaking ground for a 38,000 sq foot addition at our Devils Lake, North Dakota facility bringing our total square footage in Devils Lake alone, to over 104,000 sq feet.”

Summers Manufacturing currently manufactures and markets a complete line of agricultural field sprayers, a broad line of primary and secondary tillage implements which includes harrows, disks and chisel plows and an all-purpose rockpicker.

“This expansion will be used for fabrication and assembly to create 14 new jobs immediately and more in the future.” said Larry Summers .

The cost of the building expansion and equipment will be in excess of $1.5 million . Summers added, "With this expansion we plan to immediately add 13-20 employees to our workforce which is currently at 110 employees company wide."

Jim Dahlen, Executive Director of Forward Devils Lake Development Corp said “We are extremely pleased with the decision of Summers Manufacturing to expand their facility in Devils Lake .” “This expansion will provide substantial new high quality employment opportunities in our community and will significantly enhance our local economy.”

Summers distributes on a wholesale level to dealers and distributors throughout markets in North Dakota, South Dakota, Minnesota, Montana, Iowa, Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia, making it an international company.