Excel Industries Survives Factory Fire

 

A pre-Christmas fire struck the Kansas factory where Hustler mowers are built, but the facility was expected to reopen by the first week of January.

A Dec. 12 fire struck Excel Industries, Inc., the manufacturer of Hustler Turf Equipment. No one was hurt and the facility was expected to reopen after the New Year?EUR??,,????'???s holiday, spokeswoman Shelley Lujano said.

The fire caused significant damage to Plant 1 at the Hesston, Kan. Production facility where Hustler mowers are built. Although the fire was quickly extinguished, there was considerable damage to the main power distribution system causing a loss of electricity to the main manufacturing facility, computer systems, and administrative offices. Plants 2, 3, and 4 were undamaged other than computer and telephone service.

Fire trucks were on scene and smoke billowed into the sky over Excel Industries?EUR??,,????'??? Hesston, Kan. Factory on the evening of Dec. 12. No one was hurt in the incident.

If there was a silver lining to this disaster, it is that Excel was due to take its customary Christmas break shut down shortly after the incident. Preliminary forecasts are that this fire will not cause more than a minor delay in production of Hustler lawn mowers.