Great Bend Chamber of Commerce coffee and ribbon-cutting host Fuller Industries Inc. used the occasion Thursday morning to tout a recent expansion as the long-time Barton County manufacturer looks to further growth.
“We are at an important point for Fuller,” said Craig Rudin, Fuller’s chief executive officer. “Fuller is truly poised to be a larger player not only on the local and national stage but internationally as well.”
Rudin joined Joe Mann, Fuller vice president and general manager, and other employees in thanking the chamber and those present Thursday at the plant west of Great Bend. Along with chamber staff, chamber ambassadors, and area residents, they gathered in the front offices recently remodeled after the July 2023 wind and hailstorm that caused extensive damage to the massive factory.
“We have a long history in this community, and we appreciate the support over the past 50 years. We look forward to a continued relationship in the years to come,” Rudin said.
“When I came here two years ago, we had about 75-80 people here in the building and today we have 120,” Mann said. By the end of next year, that number could grow, he added.
Initiated last year, the commercial cleaning product maker has since fully integrated the operations of a sister factory in Canada into its operations here, he said. Based in Great Bend, Fuller is owned by GDI of Toronto, Quebec, Canada.
“This is a huge opportunity for us,” Rudin said. “It is just the first step in our broader strategy to become the leader in this industry.”
The consolidation with the Canadian facility means the company will add 200 new items to its production resume focused on dish soap, laundry detergent, and commercial cleaning chemicals. It also expands fuller into new regions of North America and adds new customers, he said.
But this also means the company must up its staffing game, Rudin said. They will need line workers but will also need folks with specialized training in technology, chemistry and other technician fields.
As part of Fuller’s efforts to modernize, there is a concerted effort to upgrade existing infrastructure. Moreover, there is a plan to utilize more automation and robotics.
And, Rudin said, with the growing need for environmentally sustainable products, something Fuller has excelled in, employees are needed to test samples and help meet the stringent certification requirements.
“Fuller has a strong environmental commitment,” he said. “We will remain on the cutting edge of sustainable manufacturing.”
“We’re also investing in our people,” Mann said. “We’re trying to attract good talent, and we’re working with folks like the Chamber, folks at Barton County Community College, etc, to find talent and bring talent here.”
About Fuller Industries Inc.
Based in Great Bend, with a rich heritage dating back over a century to the Fuller Brush Man, Fuller Industries is a leading American manufacturer of industrial products, including cleaning chemicals and supplies, as well as brooms, mops, brushes and more. Fuller serves manufacturing, commercial, institutional and agricultural clients nationwide. Call 620-792-1711 or visit Fullerindustriesllc.com.
This story was submitted by Fuller Industries, with additional reporting by Susan Thacker/Great Bend Tribune.
