Although Centro Inc. will not rebuild its Oxford, Iowa, rotational molding plant, which was destroyed by fire, the company does plan to add another plant. President Gary Rozek said he plans to build a fourth plant, but has not decided on the location.
The Oxford factory was Centro's original facility when Rozek founded the company in 1970.
On Feb. 7, fire destroyed about 43,000 square feet of manufacturing space at the plant. It housed three rotomolding machines. No injuries were reported. The fire was caused when melting snow on the roof collapsed onto an electrical box. Polyethylene resin helped fuel the fire.
``We had replacement-cost [insurance] coverage, so in order to get the full value of the insurance settlement, we need to put a new building somewhere,'' Rozek said.
Centro, with sales of $42.4 million for the fiscal year ended June 29, is the fourth-largest rotomolder in North America, according to Plastics News data. The company runs three plants, at its headquarters in North Liberty, Iowa, at Horicon, Wis., and in Spring-dale, Ark.