7-11-13 merc expansion

A groundbreaking ceremony will be held Thursday for two manufacturing expansion projects at Fond du Lac’s Mercury Marine.  Merc spokesman Steve Fleming says the projects will boost the company’s manufacturing capabilities and capacity.  The combined cost of both projects, including equipment installations later this year total more than $20 million.  "We are in the process of completing two (expansion projects) that we started last fall, one in manufacturing and one in engineering,"  Fleming said.  "...and we are now about ready to break ground on two new projects that will expand manufacturing areas."  Fleming says the expansion is in support of market growth and expanded product offerings.  "Essentially there's going to be about 40,000 square feet total between the two.  One of them is at Plant 15 and you can see a little bit of that going on at the south end of our building as you drive by on Highway 41, another is at our die-casting across the street at Plant 17,"  Fleming said.   Fleming says both projects should be completed by the end of the year.   Two local firms are heading up the project.  Excel Engineering is providing the architectural design and C.D. Smith is in charge of construction management.