Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, July 13, 1994 TAG: 9408050009
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: C8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RON BROWN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
It also is expected to reduce the operation's work force.
The Buchanan-based company obtained a $392,000 building permit to begin construction. Footers for the new facility already are in place.
Doug Townsend, the plant's operations manager, said the company will put more than $200,000 worth of new equipment in the building to complete the modernization.
He said the plant now bags limestone in the same area where it is being crushed and ground. The new building will allow the bagging operation to be separated from the grinding area.
Limestone will be transferred from the crushing plant to the bagging area on covered trucks.
Inside the plant, workers will use a new bagging machine with better dust containment. The bagger will transfer the filled bags to a conveyor belt, which will carry them to a machine that will automatically stack them on pallets.
"It is going to help us give a more uniform pallet load," Townsend said; he also pointed out that the new equipment will reduce the amount of lifting done by employees.
Employees now stack the bags by hand.
Townsend said company officials hope the new machinery will help boost productivity.
The company produces about 100 tons of bagged limestone products a day with four work shifts. With the new bagging operation, the company estimates it will be able to produce more product with only two work shifts.
James River employs about 100 people. Townsend said the increased efficiency of the machinery could mean some jobs will be lost.
He estimated that fewer than 10 jobs could be eliminated through retirements and attrition.
Townsend said the company hopes the new machinery will be on line by fall.
by CNB