Pandemic fuels wipe company expansion

Guy & O’Neill, a contract manufacturer that specializes in cleaning wipes and solutions, is expanding its Fredonia facility due to demand stemming from the coronavirus pandemic.

On Thursday, April 1, construction is to begin on a 125,000-square-foot warehouse addition at 200 Industrial Dr.

“We are always focused on growth and certainly the pandemic has had a strong impact on the household-cleaning market, especially on wipes,” President and CEO Jeff Brooks said. “Customer demand has continued to escalate, and we need more warehouse space to accommodate the growth of our business.”

The addition is necessary, Brooks said, since the company has been converting its existing storage area into production space.

Guy & O’Neill also produces bathing wipes and has expanded into household, beauty, personal and adult care products.

“Contract manufacturing is a specialty line, and each of those businesses continue to grow,” Brooks said.

Brooks wouldn’t quantify how much the business has grown within the last year, but said it has been “dramatic growth with record sales.”

The increasing demand has also resulted in the need for more employees. Brooks said the labor market is tight in the industry across the nation.

“One of our key outreaches is to continue to look for talent and new employees to join our team to help make the products our communities need,” Brooks said, adding the biggest need is in machine operators and material handlers. “We will hire as many as we can find. If I could hire 50 people tomorrow, I would.”

In addition to Guy & O’Neill, area cleaning wipes companies such as Saukville-based Rebel Converting and Kleen Test, which has two factories in Port Washington, have also experienced growth.

Brooks said Ozaukee County is an ideal location for these businesses since there’s an abundant supply of water and Wisconsin has had a thriving paper industry.

Brooks said the expansion project means Guy & O’Neill is investing in the Fredonia community from where the company was founded in 1975.

“Fredonia has been a great home to us since we first started this company. It continues to be an excellent place and the community has been very supportive of us,” Brooks said. “It makes total sense for us to stay here.”