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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Rice Lake Weighing Systems Builds New Manufacturing Center in Rice Lake, Wisconsin

07/17/2014
Rice Lake Weighing Systems Inc., an international leader in the manufacture and distribution of weight-related products and process-control equipment, is building a new facility in Rice Lake, Wisconsin, a project expected to create 57 new jobs and retain more than 400 existing positions.

The family-owned company, which was founded in 1946, will construct and equip a new manufacturing and distribution center in the Barron County community. Work is expected to begin in the next few weeks.

“My grandfather originally came to Rice Lake because he recognized the strong work ethic of the people of northwestern Wisconsin,” said Rice Lake Weighing Systems President Mark Johnson Jr. “Our continued success is largely based on the fact that we are able to find a workforce with a broad range of talents and skills. We remain committed to Wisconsin and are very excited to continue our growth here in Rice Lake. We appreciate the support of the state and its commitment to providing the tools necessary for us to remain competitive in today’s global marketplace.”

“Rice Lake Weighing Systems is not only one of the largest employers in northwestern Wisconsin, but is an integral part of our community, and their expansion will benefit the entire region,” said Dave Armstrong, BCED Executive Director. “The Barron County Economic Development Corporation is grateful to the state for supporting this project, which will bring new family-supporting jobs to the City of Rice Lake and the county.”

Donald B. Johnson and Warren Thomas founded the company in Rice Lake because there was a growing demand for scale service from creameries and cheese processing enterprises, Wisconsin Economic Development officials said. The company now offers more than 35,000 weighing, control, data collection and communication products. Its products and technology includes applications from basic weighing and data collection to on-line scale diagnostics and real-time monitoring, from recipe formulation to traceability systems, from truck management to inventory management, and beyond.

The Barron County Economic Development Corporation played a key role in working with the company and the state to make this project possible. To assist with the expansion project, the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation has authorized up to $575,000 in Jobs Tax Credits over three years. The tax credits are contingent upon the company retaining its existing number of jobs in Rice Lake and adding 57 jobs by mid-2017.

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