New Accumold facility will 'withstand F-5 tornado'

Accumold has announced plans to break ground this spring on a 40,000-square-foot, $10-million expansion which will take on 200 employees in the next three years.

The expansion at its Ankeny, Iowa facility mirrors a similar-sized, $7-million expansion on the same site in 2010.

CEO Roger Hargen said: "This latest addition will be robust/hardened facility capable of withstanding an F-5 tornado to ensure that we continue to meet the production demands of our global clients. This construction feature is an essential part of our well-developed and executed business continuity plan designed to always meet our commitments to our Fortune 150 customers and other high-tech clients," Hargens said.

Hargens added that the company, founded in 1985, is a large employer of high-skill workers in central Iowa. Accumold, which has 221 employees operates 24/7 with three weekday shifts and two 12-hour shifts on weekends. It has hired 18 employees since January 1 and is holding its own job fair next week.

"It's ironic that a company with a laser focus on producing such micro parts has grown so large," Hargens said. "But it's our commitment to innovation and being the best at what we do that has kept us on the global stage and fueled our growth. And, there's no place we'd rather achieve this growth than in Ankeny. Our city and state officials have been tremendously supportive of this company every step of the way and continue to do so."