Dard Products (asi/48500), a frequent Top 40 company, is close to fully operating inside its new 57,000 square-foot factory in Licking, MO.

The site currently has six employees and has shipped 12 orders, but Stan Morrison, COO of DARD Products, anticipates more than doubling the number of employees in the next few weeks, The Licking News reported.

Dard has received more than 100 job applications and there are a “stack of orders” waiting to be filled, according to Gary Sullins, maintenance supervisor at Dard. A new air compressor and accompanying air dryer are expected to be up and running by mid-week. After that, only an IT component remains for the factory to be fully operational.

In December, Dard was purchased by Illinois-based athletic apparel manufacturer and decorator Official Issue. Bonni Shevin-Sandy, former president of Dard, told Counselor she sold the third-generation family business to long-time friend Scott Palmberg, owner of Official Issue and sporting goods provider Athletic Specialties. 

“A lot of our product translates into the promo market, and the promo market is much bigger,” Palmberg said. “We don’t sell direct – we are committed to the dealer network/wholesale business. By putting these companies together, we’ll be able to offer our clients quick turns, customized designs and many domestic products.”

In addition to Dard, Athletic Specialties will be utilizing space in the factory for warehousing and shipping products. As soon as the roof of the warehouse is replaced, Athletic Specialties will begin its warehousing/shipping operations.