Falls City’s newest industry, Vantec, Inc., made an impressive public debut Wednesday afternoon and evening as owners Bev and Willie Van Wyhe, assisted by Falls City Economic Development and Growth Enterprise (EDGE), hosted a public open house attended by hundreds of interested citizens. Small group tours were given for more than two hours as the Vantec custom injection plastic molding process was explained. Those attending also watched as the four huge and sophisticated machines that develop the final products were in operation.

Currently, Vantec is producing plastic molded parts for the Kawasaki plant in Maryville, MO, shipping a semi load each day. The plant is operating with three shifts, five days per week. Eventually, the plant will operate on a 24/7 basis and ship three semi loads per day. Some of the five parts created at the local plant are for newly-designed Kawasaki engines. Down the road, the plant will create at least 15 parts for Kawasaki. The plant is employing 22 workers in the plastic injection molding process. Four brand new machines are used to create the parts. Future plans call for the addition of a least two more machines, with space for as many as 20. Plastic pellets, stored in silos outside the former spec building (which has seen quite a remodeling) are funneled into the plant to the machines. They are then ground even smaller and melted in a very efficient process that yields the molded parts. The entire process is fueled by electricity.

Willie and Bev Van Wyhe opened their home plant in Webster City, IA, 25 years ago (on Dec. 1). Since that time, the original plant has seen several expansions as business has grown. The Falls City plant is the first expansion away from Webster City. One of the many impressions upon seeing the plant is cleanliness. Supervisor Donna Landis, who helped conduct the tours, said the floors are cleaned every night and the machines after each shift. Quality control is also a staple of the Van Wyhe process, with machine operators (one or two workers at each machine) conducting checks every two hours. A quality control room is being set up in the plant, as well. Any excess plastic – for example a part that doesn’t meet the high quality standards – is re-ground and re-processed, so waste at the Vantec plant is virtually nil. Because of the process, little or no heat is needed on the production floor, which is climate controlled year round at 72 degrees.

As the plant continues to gear up, the Van Wyhes said the number of products produced will increase and not just for Kawasaki. Willie Van Wyhe said the company is exploring new options in the Omaha and Kansas City areas, and that Falls City is perfectly situated to serve those and other markets. Location is not the only reason the Van Wyhes decided to move a new Vantec location to Falls City. “We’ve really appreciated all the support we’ve had, ” Willie Van Wyhe said. “In fact, that was a big part of our decision (to locate in Falls City). The positive attitude of the community was a big part of it. We really enjoy being here.” Mr. Van Wyhe also noted the “pro active” approach demonstrated by EDGE officials as a major reason for locating in Falls City.

Vantec makes parts for a huge number of industries, including, but not limited to, coffee makers, vacuums, oil plugs and washing machines. The long list is expected to grow and that is a very positive development, not only for Vantec but also for Falls City and the surrounding area.

Source: Falls City Journal, December 12, 2008

Officials from Nebraska and Missouri were listening Tuesday night, and what they heard was overwhelming citizen support for a new Missouri River bridge at Rulo. Of the 20 people who spoke at the Camp Rulo public hearing, not one expressed opposition to the bridge. Some had questions; some debated the street plan in Rulo. But no one opposed the replacement of the current bridge, deemed obsolete and dangerous.

Officially, 209 citizens signed the registration sheet for the hearing. But a head count conducted by a Journal friend revealed that at least 376 people attended. It was a standing room only crowd.

Tuesday’s meeting was organized by Greg Weinert, formerly of Falls City, the Public Hearings Officer for the Nebraska Department of Roads. In his capacity as 1st District Highway Commissioner, Rod Vandeberg chaired the public session. An afternoon information open house at Camp Rulo preceded the formal evening public hearing. And in the morning, Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOR) personnel conducted a “walk-through” so that local officials, including members of the Rulo Village Board, could better understand the plans for Rulo’s streets. Representatives from the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) participated in the day-long meetings and evening hearings.

In his opening remarks, Vandeberg, who also serves as Mayor of Falls City, described the current bridge. “That old girl has stood out there and served us faithfully for almost 70 years,” he said. “It is the second oldest Missouri River bridge in use today.” Vandeberg noted that construction of the bridge began in 1938 and was completed in November of 1939. The cost: $6 million. NDOR and MoDOT officials have estimated its replacement at $32 million (in today’s dollars). Vandeberg said the bridge “was designed for another time in history,” then briefly spoke as a private citizen and Mayor of Falls City. “I have promoted the construction of a new Rulo Bridge,” he said. “There is nothing that would make me happier than to stand out here, in a few years, with the Governors of our two great states as they cut the ribbon on a new, safe bridge, designed to last 100 years or more.” But as a Nebraska Highway Commissioner, Vandeberg said he would “put aside any personal viewpoints” and objectively concentrate on “the best interests of the entire state of Nebraska’s surface transportation system and the driving public at large.” He described the project as “extremely complex.” Funding would have to come from both Nebraska and Missouri.

Consulting Engineer Tom Kellogg, representing Tan-Systems, said the proposed project would begin at the 4th Street and U.S. 159 intersection in Rulo and end about a half-mile east of the existing bridge in Missouri. The new bridge would be approximately 650 feet south of the existing bridge. In Rulo, 1st Street and Rouleau Streets would be improved and widened to accommodate traffic from Commercial Street to Hwy. 159. A left turning lane would be incorporated into Hwy. 159 at 1st Street to improve the turn radius for large trucks and machinery. … The new bridge would be 2,400 feet long and about twice as wide (two lanes with shoulders) as the narrow present bridge. The old bridge was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 1993. It would be removed after construction of a new bridge. The drastic curves in the approaches to the old bridge would be eliminated in the new bridge design.

Kellogg said Nebraska and Missouri would equally share the costs. The Village of Rulo will shoulder no costs. “Based on the availability of funds,” Kellogg said, “this project is anticipated to begin construction in the spring of 2011 and is anticipated to be completed in 2013. The right-of-way acquisition process is anticipated to begin in the spring of 2009.” ….

Source: Falls City Journal, December 5, 2008 – Scott Schock

Information on the new bridge is also available on the Nebraska Department of Roads website.