The owners of Drumco are excited to be moving to Arkadelphia, co-owner Barry Wingard said during a press conference today at the Southwest Arkansas Technical Learning Center.

The company, which recycles and reconditions steel drums and other non-bulk packaging, now operates facilities in Bauxite and Memphis, Tenn. The Bauxite facility measures 60,000 square feet, but “we’ve simply outgrown it,” he said. Despite several obstacles that he and his father, David, faced during the purchasing process, “things just fell into place,” Wingard said of expanding into a building in the Clark County Industrial Park.

“One hundred things had to happen to make this possible,” Wingard said, “and they all happened, one by one.”

When the Wingards first came to look at the 275,000 square foot “Goodrich building” in the industrial park, they thought it would be too big for their needs.

“We really thought the (building) was way above our heads,” Wingard said, “but it worked out. It’s almost like it was destined to happen for us.”

The company has already started renovating the building for its production needs.

Drumco’s Bauxite plant will continue operating. Once the new building is ready, those operations will move to Clark County, Wingard said.

The 70-75 employees of that plant will be offered the opportunity to move to Clark County, he said. “We know they won’t all move.” Any additional personnel needed here will be hired locally.

Within a year or two of operation, the company may expand its lines, Wingard said. “Eventually, we hope to employ well over 100 workers,” he said.

If operations continue as they have been, Wingard said he envisions adding one or two more production lines to the company, which would mean at least 50 more jobs, “depending on the lines,” he said.

The company also has its own transportation division, so it will be hiring drivers to transport goods as well as hiring workers.

Drumco’s Memphis plant works primarily with plastic containers, Wingard said, and will continue to operate there.

The company could add lines at Arkadelphia to handle those products as well, if demand warrants it.

The market for such products is strong now, Wingard said. “There is unlimited growth potential.”

Wingard and his family plan to move from Bauxite to Clark County once the facility moves into the industrial park. “We really like the area,” he said, “and we promise to be good neighbors.”

The Wingards were welcomed by a large crowd at the press conference. “It’s an exciting day for us,” said Randal Mathis, executive director of the Clark County Industrial Council. “They are good corporate citizens. We are pleased to know they are going to be part of our community.”