The employees of Martin Marietta Composites pose for a photograph in front of the company's first trailer produced at its Sparta manufacturing facility at a special event last Thursday. At the far left of the photo is plant manager Brady Jones.

Martin Marietta produces first product; trailer bound for Fla.

Several local officials were on hand, along with numerous company representatives, as Martin Marietta Composites (MMC) unveiled its first locally-built composite trailer off the line at its Sparta manufacturing facility during a special event last Thursday. Grant Godwin, MMC's vice president and general manager, and other company officials offered a tour of the renovated plant as part of the event.

The company also produces bridge decks here and has already shipped several to various locations, Godwin said. Two were shipped to West Virginia and one was shipped to New York, a fourth is ready to be shipped to Portland, Ore. The company has installed more than 20 composite bridge decks overall and is considered a world leader in that market, company officials noted.

Godwin said the company may have several more trailers ready to be shipped in the near future.

The first order was slated to go to the West Palm Beach (Fla.) Solid Waste Authority, which ordered two trial trailers. Godwin said the company ordered the two to try them out and will possibly place more orders in the near future if they are pleased with their performance. Godwin said he has been very pleased with the customer reaction and sales that the company has had thus far.

The local plant, which is in the building that formerly housed Bristol Compressors, currently employs 32 hourly personnel and seven salaried personnel, Godwin said. Plans are to add on more staff in 2004, he said. "As we ramp up in ‘04, we will be expanding production workers and more staff," he said.

He said the number of people added to the plant will depend on sales. However, he did note that he expects the staff to be about triple its current size by the end of 2004.

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