Safco Products Company, a 50-year-old manufacturer of furniture and office products, is purchasing a high-tech facility in Milford, Iowa that will dramatically increase its manufacturing space and technology capabilities.
“We are creating an improved pipeline from the manufacturing floor to our customers with this move,” said Mike Fiterman, chairman and CEO of Liberty Diversified International (LDI) the family-owned parent company of Safco. Safeco products include seating, desks, and educational solutions, plus organization, presentation/training and work area furniture.
In 2016, Safco acquired Mayline Company, a furniture manufacturer with a 75-year heritage based in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Soon after, Safco began searching for updated manufacturing space. Chosen was the 370,000 square foot facility in Milford.
“We are bringing more than 100 jobs to the community while significantly upgrading our manufacturing capabilities, including our speed and efficiency on customized orders,” Fiterman said. “Our goal is to create one of the most modern manufacturing facilities of its kind in the United States, which will enable us to manufacture even more of our products domestically.”
When the sale is complete, the company will transfer manufacturing from its former Sheyboygan, Wisconsin, leased location to the newly purchased Iowa facility during 2018. A parallel infrastructure operational plan is in place to assure a seamless transition for customers. To increase efficiency and customer service, Safco and Mayline office administration functions (non-manufacturing) are moving under one roof at Safco’s Minneapolis headquarters.
With 1,800 employees, LDI operates in the following industries: paper and packaging, office furnishings, and building and architectural products. With roots in the corrugated fiberboard business, the company was founded in 1918 and is headquartered near Minneapolis.
