Marion Manufacturing Merges With Illinois Company

A West Terre Haute-based manufacturer is expanding, forming a new partnership with a similar business in Illinois. Marion Manufacturing announced it’s merging with Morton Machining, which is near Peoria. This is the company’s biggest news since expanding in 2008.

Today, Marion Manufacturing employs 80 people making parts for the heavy equipment, aerospace and military industries.

Investor’s Point

President Tammy Marion says an investor with Morton Machining approached her with the idea of merging. “I never really thought much about doing any kind of collaboration like this in the past, but it really made sense,” said Marion.

That’s because the two businesses complement one another. Also, a larger company is more marketable to regional equipment manufacturers.

“Their big customer is Allison Transmission, which is closer to us in Indianapolis, and our big customer is Caterpillar, which is closer to them,” said Marion. “So we’re able to offer some benefits for one another.”

When asked about merging with an Illinois company, located in a state with a poor political and business climate, Marion said the combined company is headquartered in Indiana for stability, but she also said big Illinois politics still needs small businesses like Morton Machining. “The operation in Illinois will be open, that way we can remain close to our customers in Illinois and Iowa,” said Marion. Morton Machining employs 55 people and serves the construction, agricultural, mining and rail industries.