SpringfieldNewsSun.com

Valco Industries has risen from the ashes, and it found plenty of help along the way.

The metal fabrication business, operating out of its new facility at 625 Burt St., was forced to re-establish itself after a fire on Feb. 9 destroyed much of the previous location at 6901 Urbana Road.

The fire, with damage totaling nearly $1.7 million, consumed enough of the building and damaged enough equipment that rebuilding was not an option, said owner Ed Leventhal.

While the company had been looking for a new site for some time, he said, the fire forced them to relocate sooner. Valco had been working with the city and county, initially hoping to build, but plans had to change.

"The new equipment came in too quickly, and we realized we couldn't build," Valco General Manager Dave Montgomery said.

With little time to make a decision, Valco initially set up shop at the available Burt Street location, soon discovering they had made an "intelligent choice that is turning out to be a great long-term solution," Montgomery said.

The insurance money went a long way in the re-establishment, Montgomery said, and the company worked with the city of Springfield to secure funding "that was essentially used to fill the gap." A portion of the project has been financed by the company's own funds.

Tom Franzen, Springfield's economic development director, said the city worked to help make relocating within the city limits more attractive.

The Small Business Development Center, administering the city's Targeted Investment Loan Fund, secured $200,000. Through the city's PLEDGE Link Deposit Loan program, the company received $225,000. A grant for just over $19,800 from the city's economic development fund was also awarded.

Help from others

Immediately after the fire, local businesses offered assistance so Valco employees wouldn't be without work.

"We received a great community response," Leventhal said,

Remington Steel, he said, took a few employees and allowed Valco to produce some of its inventory at their facility.

Fontaine Modification, a Valco customer, found room for nine potentially displaced employees on their production line.

"It's just something you'd do for a friend," said Mark Hampshire, Fontaine vice president and general manager for the central region.

The relationship, Hampshire, Leventhal and Montgomery agreed, "gave the people who built the parts the opportunity to see how their parts are used."

Both companies benefitted, Hampshire said. Now they share business philosophies and ideas about technology. "We're building a relationship with (Ed) Levnthal who owns A&E Powder Coating to become a single-source provider for companies that need items powder coated and painted," he said.

Fire wasn't all negative

Even though the fire was devastating, Montgomery and Leventhal said there have been many positives. "We didn't miss any deliveries," Montgomery said.

The need for new equipment gave the company the opportunity to upgrade their technology.

New robotics equipment gives Valco the capability to compete for jobs they previously weren't able to consider.

An environmentally friendly grinding booth has turned what is normally a dirty, gritty, dusty process into one that no longer covers the shop in dust. Montgomery said the investment was worth it because everyone breathes better, the shop is cleaner and the equipment will last longer.

Leventhal said the new location has allowed the company to position itself with better equipment and a better location. More important, he said, "is the fact that we survived. Everyone really pulled together."