Mark “Sparly” Lenning rolls tiles on to a spool at the Eagle Grove Advanced Drainage Systems plant. The tile produced at the plant is largely used for agricultural drainage, according to plant manager Mitch Kirkland.

EAGLE GROVE – The machines hum spewing out thousands of feet of plastic drainage tile a day at Advanced Drainage Systems in Eagle Grove.

The black corrugated pipe produced in the Eagle Grove plant, 100 N.E. 20th St., is primarily used for agricultural purposes, said plant manager Mitch Kirkland.

“The market for field drainage tile was very strong last year,” Kirkland said. “We were able to meet that demand, do it safely and do it with what our company describes as a world-class level of commitment to quality and service.”

In addition to a stellar year of business, the plant was recently awarded the title of Plant of the Year.

“This award is the highest award a plant can receive; it is a testimony to the hard work, diligence and focus on safety, quality, customer service and production by the entire team throughout the year,” said Kirkland. “This award shines a light on our plant, our people and our operation.”

“This award shines a light on our plant, our people and our operation.” —Mitch Kirkland Plant manager

Only seven of these awards are presented annually. The Eagle Grove plant is one of 42 the company operates in the U.S. It also has plants in Mexico, Canada and Chile.

ADS is one of the largest plastic drainage pipe companies in the world, with its products used in more than 70 countries throughout the world.

More than 90 people work at the Eagle Grove plant, and it began business in the area in 1977.

The drainage tile produced is shipped in large coils to contractors, distributors and retail outlets, such as Shopper Supply, throughout the Midwest.

The plant operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Last year, the plant experienced an increase in sales and shipping volumes. The burgeoning business expanded by 7,000 square feet at the plant site to meet the growth in the market, Kirkland said.

The company offers a broad product line in addition to drainage tiles, which includes detention/retention systems.

Basically, the process directs groundwater into a detention system during heavy rains, which then slowly leeches out. The system to designed to prevent things such as street flooding.

For now the Eagle Grove plant is doing what it does best: meeting customer needs with in-demand, high-quality supplies.

Contact Lindsey Mutchler at (515) 573-2141 or lindsey@messengernews.net