Link Mfg., Ltd. has announced its plan to begin construction of a new 50,000-sq.-ft. manufacturing and training facility.
The construction process is anticipated to be completed in December of 2021. A ground-breaking event was held on the site of the new Plant 4 facility, which will be located on Link’s Sioux Center, Iowa, campus, adjacent to and connected with its existing plant 3 building.
“This is the beginning of a new chapter in Link’s 41-year history, made even more economically impactful to our city, state and industry through our recent Hadley acquisition,” says Jim Huls, Link Manufacturing president.
“The contemporary new space will enable the company to better manage its suspension, suspension control and specialty products business and anticipated growth across new and existing product sectors. And the integrated training facility will help us to provide continuing education to our existing workforce and educate new staff on the latest in today’s high-tech manufacturing techniques,” Huls says.
Link is certified to IATF 16949 standards and over the years the company has assembled a world-class testing lab, the company says. In addition to its Sioux Center headquarters, Link maintains engineering and manufacturing facilities in Nisku, Alberta, Canada.
Link’s newest and most advanced version of its popular Cabmate features Link’s Road-Optimized Innovations (ROI) technology, delivering a new level of ride quality that dynamically responds in real time to road and weather conditions. Link’s ROI Cabmate Cab Suspension is just the first in what is expected to be an entirely new class of suspension control systems, driven in part by the company’s revolutionary ROI technology, Link says.
“Link’s recent acquisition of Hadley SmartValve Electronic Height Control Systems, Smart Air Management Systems (SAMS), dynamic air suspension control technology and expert staff significantly expands Link’s capabilities, increases its overall product depth and will stimulate the development of new innovations, while enhancing the company’s electrical engineering and software development capabilities,” Huls says.
“Link now moves into the whole-vehicle suspension control segment of the heavy truck market, extending its reach into medium- and heavy-duty truck, tractor, trailer, motorcoach, transit bus, shuttle bus, recreational vehicle and specialty vehicle markets,” he says.
Huls notes the new space will allow Link to add and reconfigure manufacturing cells to accommodate the company’s new, broader product line. He also explained the Plant 4 space will help Link as it turns more of its attention to engineering and manufacturing suspension control technologies.
“Sioux Center is located near the geographic center of the country and keeps Link within easy reach of major transportation routes and thus the OEMs and secondary markets we serve,” Huls says.
