Altec HiLine expands to make room for more production, more employees.
Altec HiLine is expanding in its home at the Duluth Seaway Port Authority’s Clure Public Marine Terminal.

In May, the Port Authority agreed to expand the company’s rental space at the terminal by 26,000 square feet, bringing its total space to 90,000 square feet. Altec HiLine, a producer of large aerial boom trucks, has also been increasing its workforce, adding more than 20 people in the past few years, boosting its workforce to 70.

“And we’re not done growing yet,” said Dave Faynik, the plant’s general manager.  “With the new space we expect to continue expanding our workforce along with our business.”

Altec, located at the terminal since 2002, manufactures, sells and services vehicle-mounted aerial platforms for electric utilities, construction companies and government agencies. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of ALTEC, INC., a privately held Alabama corporation.

In addition to producing the boom trucks, the company has also been receiving components for digger-derricks from Altec Industries in other locations (such as the Missouri plant) that ship the parts to Duluth for assembly and installation on chassis.  There is a huge demand for this type of equipment due to recent destructive hurricanes.

“We have an excellent production team here and in three years have tripled our business due to that fact” said Mr. Faynik. “We look forward to numerous projects of completion, distribution and shipment of this type of equipment in addition to our normal production projects.”

Currently, the company rolls about three of the digger-derricks off it its Duluth production line per day. This is in addition to the two to five boom trucks it completes each week.

Altec’s Digger-Derricks, valued at over $100,000 each, are designed to install utility poles and perform service work. They usually reach about 40 feet, and are being used widely throughout the U.S., especially in the Southeast to restore utilities and communications damaged by the hurricanes.

“We have proven our ability to manufacture these units competitively and deliver them on time.”

The boom trucks are valued at up to $800,000 each and are designed to reach heights to 150 feet. They are specially engineered with insulated fiberglass that prevents electrical grounding and are often used to service high-power electrical transmission lines.

“These units allow workers to service live wires, which can carry up to 500,000 volts, without risk of injury — like a bird on a wire,” said Mr. Faynik.

The company also manufactures specialty equipment for tasks ranging from street light maintenance to tree care services. 

“The Port Authority was happy to help this company expand at its present location,” said Andy McDonough, business development director for the Duluth Seaway Port Authority. “We wish to keep these types of family-wage jobs in the area and are glad to provide the space to assist the company’s growth.”