Green Bay Drop Forge could expand in east side industrial park. What we know and don't

GREEN BAY - Green Bay Drop Forge wants to build a new 100,000-square-foot production facility in a recently created industrial park on Green Bay’s eastern border with the town of Humboldt.

The company, currently located at 1341 State St. along the Fox River, proposed the new facility on 12.7 acres of city-owned land in the 3800 block of Finger Road. The site is east of Carnivore Meat Co.’s new, $55 million production facility and would be the second project in the city’s new Grandview Industrial Park .

The city’s Plan Commission this month approved a conditional use permit request from Cleveland Hardware and Forging, parent company of Green Bay Drop Forge, for a general industrial use on the site.

“The city’s looking at how the city will expand and grow and attract talent and that’s the same thing we’re doing. We’ve been around 110 years and want to be around another 110 years,” said Bill Hoben, owner of Green Bay Drop Forge, during the June 17 Plan Commission hearing on the request.

The Green Bay City Council on Tuesday approved the conditional use permit request without additional changes. Several Council members noted Green Bay Drop Forge and Hoben have responded proactively when the company was contacted about prior noise complaints.

"The layered sound-absorbing buildings, the berms, the foliage, the way they designed it to face another building … it looks like they have done their work and done it very well," Council member Bill Galvin said. "They put a plan together that I think will do well. This organization has worked with the city in the past when there have been problems. I know they will do that again."

Company leaders indicated they’ve worked on the expansion plan for about two years, but the new drop forge and press facility remains in the early stages of development. Hoben did not return messages requesting an interview.

Here’s what we know, what we don’t know and what concerns the neighbors.

What’s a drop forge?

Green Bay Drop Forge primarily forges steel link and fastener components for a variety of industries. It also can forge or press custom components for customers, according to its website.

It makes these products using a press or a drop forge. In a drop forge, a piece of steel ready for processing or shaping is placed in a bottom mold. The top mold is attached to a hammer, which is lifted high in the air and dropped onto the steel, forging it into the shape of the mold.

Forged tools and components are known for their strength and durability.

More Grandview Industrial Park news: Green Bay may spend $1.2 million to buy land and expand east-side industrial park

Green Bay Drop Forge’s new factory would employ more than 100 people

Exactly how many employees will work at the new factory is not entirely clear.

Green Bay Drop Forge plans to bring a production line currently at one of its Illinois facilities to the site. It would also upgrade its forges and furnaces to more modern, efficient uses.

The company would employ about 75 people to start at the site with room on the property for facility expansions that could add another 75 jobs in future years, for a total of 150 employees, according to the city staff report.

Green Bay Drop Forge, in document submissions to the city, put the number at 115 to 130 employees.

Site plans modified in response to some neighbor concerns, but noise concerns remain

The site is bordered by Carnivore Meat Co.’s new production facility to the west, but farmland and homes along its north, east and south sides.

Residents of those properties raised concerns about the initial location of a driveway on South Northview Road, noise from the forge operation and the potential for vehicle headlights to shine in homes’ front windows.

Green Bay Drop Forge in response modified the plans to include more berms topped with vegetation around the site perimeter to minimize headlights. It also relocated the driveway, as well to reduce impacts.

Residents still remain concerned about the repetitive noise the forge will create throughout the hours of operation, even if an acoustic study showed the noise would be below the city’s 80 decibel limit for general industrial uses at the new factory's property line.

Council member Jennifer Grant said she appreciated the company's responsiveness to residents' noise concerns.

"You guys did listen to the residents and make changes. I’m very happy you were able to do that," Grant said.

What don’t we know?

There’s a lot still to work out before the company drops the hammer on the city’s far east side. The conditional use permit approval marks an initial step. Often, companies will need to get approval to build a new facility before they can get financing approved, for example.

Green Bay Drop Forge would have to negotiate with the city to purchase the 12.7-acre property and also iron out terms of a development agreement, said Matt Buchanan, the city’s deputy development director. Buchanan said the company could request financial assistance to support the project, but those details have yet to take shape.

It’s also unclear whether Green Bay Drop Forge would continue to operate its State Street facility or if it would relocate those operations and workers to the proposed new facility.

“We’re look forward to continuing the conversation with Green Bay Drop Forge on implementing their vision,” Buchanan said.

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Green Bay Drop Forge could expand in east side industrial park. What we know and don't