The company’s focus in 1958 was in the repair of underground mine equipment and trucks. When demand for mining equipment jumped in the mid-1960s, Elswick developed the Mark-IV roof bolting machine which became popular and varied in height and configuration. In the United States, these machines became the go-to for providing added safety at an affordable price.
As time went by, the need for increased mine ventilation prompted a change in direction. Since that change, the Paul’s Fan team has built, rebuilt and installed more than 5,000 custom ventilation systems across the USA, Canada and Mexico for a variety of industries ranging from mining to large industrial plants and factories. The company builds, installs and services those fans, including large and complex ventilation systems.
In 2019, Paul’s Fans turned to VCEDA looking for funding to grow and to improve company logistics and operating efficiencies in a central manufacturing location.
An up to $5.6 million loan was approved to finance the build-out and completion of an industrial shell building at Southern Gap, the construction of an adjacent 29,000-square-foot shop building, the purchase of equipment, machinery and tools and other related improvements and costs associated with the project. The company invested $1.32 million in new equipment in the building in addition to moving equipment from its Big Rock location 12 miles away.
The construction of the 80,000-square foot shell building on 14.5 acres was financed with up to a $2.08 million loan previously approved by the VCEDA board to the Buchanan County IDA. The new manufacturing campus is an advanced manufacturing facility with two additional assembly lines; tripling the company’s manufacturing capacity. A sandblast building, paint building and final assembly building were constructed, fully equipped with superior equipment and tools.
Workforce numbers have been projected to almost double in 10 years. When the project started, there were 42 full-time employees and one part-time employee. Projections call for 82 full-time jobs within 10 years.
This expansion project to the Southern Gap industrial park was a key move in positioning us for significant growth, particularly in the area of non-mining industrial fans. We appreciate the partnership we have had on this project from VCEDA and the Buchanan County IDA and their willingness to work with us which will allow us to retain and grow our existing workforce.
TODD ELSWICK
President, Paul's Fan Company