Farnham & Pfile expanding into Monessen

Farnham & Pfile Co. plans to carve another niche in a growing coal mining industry by spending $1 million to open a plant in the Monessen Riverfront Industrial Park that will refurbish and resell mining equipment.

Rostraver Township-based Farnham & Pfile plans to buy a 132,000-square-foot building and 9.87 acres at the business park from the Westmoreland County Industrial Development Corp. for $1.45 million - a deal that is expected to create 15 to 20 jobs.

'There's an energy crunch now, and coal's getting better. We've already found one niche in the coal business, and we're real excited about the possibilities,' said Robert McMahon, secretary-treasurer of Farnham & Pfile.

He said the company will initially employ 40 to 50 people at the site, including 15 to 20 new hires. 'Where it goes from there, we don't know at this point,' McMahon said.

McMahon said the decision to move into the Monessen business park marks an expansion of the company's core engineering and construction division - which currently designs and builds coal preparation plants for mining companies.

A preparation plant is usually located on a mine site and may serve several mines. The plant is used for crushing, sizing and washing coal to prepare it for use. The washing process has the added benefit of removing some of the coal's sulfur content.

'The engineering and construction end of the business is growing, and we see there is a need for used and re-conditioned equipment. We needed a larger area because we have no space at our present location,' McMahon said.

The company currently does business from three buildings located along Route 51 and Interstate 70 in Rostraver Township. Along with its construction and engineering business, Farnham & Pfile operates a tool and equipment rental-sales division for contractors and homeowners.

Farnham & Pfile also operates a first-aid division, using vans to transport and deliver health and safety products, such as first-aid kits, to businesses for compliance with Occupational Safety and Health regulations.

'We're not moving from Rostraver, we're just expanding into a new area,' said McMahon. Farnham & Pfile was incorporated in July 1985, and began doing business in early 1986. Doug Farnham is president, and John Pfile is vice president.

McMahon said the company has signed the sales agreement with WCIDC and expects to move into the Monessen complex within the next couple of months.