THE CHALLENGE

 

Apel Extrusions needed to quickly expand manufacturing capacity at their factory in Coburg, Oregon, to meet growing demand. But many people who lived nearby were frustrated by the noise from the factory and unlikely to support the expansion during the public review process.

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THE SOLUTION

 

Apel Extrusions hired a team led by Curt Wilson to expand the factory’s manufacturing capacity before the new machinery arrived. The team’s approach balanced the company’s desire to move fast with the community’s desire to live near a quieter factory. Along the way, Curt and the team:

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Took community concerns seriously. At a community open house and in individual meetings, the team listened to neighbors’ concerns about noise and shared ideas to address them.

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Turned down the volume, affordably and efficiently. The team’s design reorganized the noisiest operations, reduced the number of openings to the outside and included a sound wall. Together, these changes lowered the volume for neighbors without significantly adding to the budget.

 

Moved fast without sacrificing long-term value. On a short timeline with an expedited permitting process, Curt and the team determined how much Apel Extrusions could expand based on local code, how the expansion could support a new manufacturing line, and how to improve relationships with the local community.

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THE IMPACT

 

In the week after the sound wall was installed, the most vocal neighbor wrote to the City to say thank you for stopping the factory noise. The expansion created job opportunities for local people and revenue opportunities for the company — and the work was complete by the time the new manufacturing equipment arrived.