Arnold’s Incorporation in 1972 Boosted Big Business
Arnold Mayor Ron Counts praises the city’s business growth since incorporating in 1972: “With incorporation, Arnold became better positioned to improve community services, attract new businesses, new jobs, cultural and recreational amenities, and we qualified to apply for more federal and state grants for civic programs and improvements. Our population of successful big businesses reflects Arnold’s workforce strengths.”
Major companies with operations near Tenbrook Industrial Park now include Arnold Defense & Electronics; Browning Arms Company; LMC Industries, Inc.; Medart, Inc.; Sinclair & Rush, Inc.; Unico, Inc.; Warren Sign Company; and Metal Container Corporation – the Anheuser Busch/InBev can manufacturing operation that is the nation’s largest. In addition, the U.S. National Imagery and Mapping Agency’s 34 acre headquarters is in Arnold.
“Each of those companies employs highly-trained people who work a good job for good pay,” says Mayor Counts. “These companies are important local contributors with good-paying jobs and taxes. We invest in companies that invest in us. It is obvious that Arnold is ‘Open for Business.'”
Here are some of Arnold’s leading corporate citizens:
Metal Container Corporation – https://www.anheuser-busch.com
Metal Container Corporation plant in Arnold … Copyright St. Louis Labor Tribune
Metal Container Corporation, founded in 1973, is a subsidiary of Anheuser Busch/InBev located at 42 Tenbrook Industrial Park in Arnold. Since then Metal Container Corporation (MCC) has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in production expansion projects at its Arnold facility. The company manufactures metal cans, lids, bottles, and other packaging materials, supplying more than 45 percent of the brewer’s beer cans and 55 percent of its lids for the U.S. market. The operation also produces cans and lids for major U.S. soft drink companies, including PepsiCo. and Monster Beverage Corporation. MCC makes more than 25 billion cans and 27 billion lids annually with plants in Arnold and six other U.S. cities. Arnold plant expansions were made possible through a property tax abatement program in collaboration with the City of Arnold and Jefferson County. The bond program encourages business recruitment and expansion, provides incentives for different industrial projects and helps generate new jobs.
LMC Industries, Inc. – https://lmcindustries.com
LMC ARNOLD photo aerial view of LMC Industries in Arnold
With two plants on its corporate campus in Arnold comprising more than five acres under roof – one for plastics operations, one for metal stamping/tool and die – LMC Industries successfully serves medical, electrical, electronics and consumer products industries in addition to automotive, agriculture and more. The family owned firm conducts a large amount of business with agriculture and automobile industries. LMC manufactures products such as headlight housings, accelerator pedals, brake pedals, and seat belt components, metal and plastic, for every type of vehicle. For agriculture industries, LMC makes feeder housings for poultry and swine among many additional products for farm and home. It manufactures parts and components in virtually every category, from toys to office supplies to military hardware components. More than 250 employees design, build, maintain and operate metal stamping dies, plastic injection molds, jig guides and fixtures to create top quality products. Many trained at Jefferson College as part of Missouri’s Certified Work Ready Community initiative, which increased efficiency and productivity, and many have worked at LMC for more than 20 years.
Medart Engine – https://www.medartengine.com
Mike Medart CEO of Medart Engine
Medart Engine is a wholesale distributor headquartered in Arnold that represents more than 100 manufacturers in the engine industry. Founded in 1912 in St. Louis, its six distribution locations across the nation now have more than 40,000 different part numbers in stock covering a huge range of products. Medart’s deep selection of products can meet the needs of every customer. J.R. Medart started with the company in 1925 by selling automotive parts and delivering them on his Indian motorcycle with big leather saddlebags. Today, Medart’s more than 240 fulltime associates offer value solutions to every customer. In 1995, Mike Medart became CEO and President. He moved headquarters to Arnold from St. Louis by building two facilities totaling 121,000 square feet. “Being in Arnold has been a positive for our company,” Mike Medart says. “A number of capable and skilled people who live in this area have joined our workforce. The community is a good place to live and work. Our most important goal is customer satisfaction, and we believe that commitment is one reason why we have been an industry leader for more than a century in business.”
Sinclair & Rush – https://www.sinclair-rush.com
Sinclair & Rush CEO Bradley Philip
If you visit a Lowe’s or Home Depot store, many if not most rakes and shovels have grips on them made by Sinclair & Rush in Arnold and sold nationwide. Big home and garden stores are just one of numerous industry sectors for Sinclair & Rush. The company’s full line of complementary processes and products positions Sinclair & Rush as one of the world’s leading multi-processors of plastic components. What began in 1950 as a small molding company in St. Louis making vinyl products is now a global operation with manufacturing and distribution operations on four continents supplying more than 20,000 customers. Three brands currently operate under the Sinclair & Rush name: StockCap, VisiPak and GripWorks. In 1994, the company built and moved into a 125,000 square foot headquarters at 123 Manufacturers Drive in Arnold that is being expanded by 45,000 square feet where employees work in manufacturing, sales, customer service and financial operations. In addition, the firm recently took over the 111 Manufacturers Drive building for manufacturing. Sinclair & Rush now has 470 employees in the U.S., 670 employees worldwide, and wants to hire more says President and Chief Operating Officer Bradford M. Philip. He was previously Executive Vice President and General Manager. How many Sinclair & Rush products are in use around the world today? “Billions.”
UNICO, Inc. https://www.unicosystem.com
UNICO headquarters
Unico, Inc., founded 1985 by Joe and Sharon Intagliata, comprises two manufacturing facilities with more than 150,000 square feet of manufacturing and storage space with sales distribution in North America, Europe, Africa, Central and South America, India, and China. Unico is a global leader in Small Duct High Velocity (SDHV) heating and cooling systems that are popular space saving solutions for custom homes and historic preservation. In 2004, Unico led the effort to get SDHV air conditioner systems approved by the U.S. Department of Energy as a unique class of product. In 2007, Unico opened its metal fabrication division SGI Manufacturing, which provides metal parts for its blower and coil cabinets and parts that go into each unit. Today, SGI also manufactures parts for other large companies. In 2018, Unico moved its corporate offices into the SGI facility after a $2 million expansion to the property.
Warren Sign Company, Inc. – https://www.warrensign.com
Retired CEO of Warren Sign Company David Warren
Warren Sign, established in 1929, moved to its modern Arnold headquarters production facility in 1998. With more than 40,000 thousand square feet of space, Warren Sign is the largest and most experienced sign company in the metro Saint Louis area. The company is known for the loyalty and stability of its customer base and new clients seeking top quality products that are designed, manufactured, installed and serviced by skilled union craftsmen vested in pride of workmanship. Warren Sign’s passion, management style and dedication to top quality service helped fuel its growth for more than 90 years. The company’s skilled experts design, manufacture, and install all types of illuminated electric and non-illuminated signs for all types of business and organizations. Its capabilities include computer aided design, CNC machines; vinyl cutters; aluminum and steel welding; channel letter building; low-voltage energy efficient LED lighting; neon bending and repair; spray paint booths; custom paint mixing stations, high-rise boom trucks; and truck bays for shipping and receiving large cargo. Recycling and energy efficiency are priorities at Warren sign, whose top quality signs are backed by a worry free warranty.
Mayor Counts asserts, “Arnold is a municipality where people enjoy life, work, and play. The presence of major corporations like these and others in Arnold enhances our commitment and distinguishes our reputation as a business-friendling city.”
Story for the City of Arnold by Jeff Dunlap.