PIERRE, S.D. (2/23/12) – Gov. Dennis Daugaard says increased sales for one South Dakota business will soon mean an expansion project for another company on the opposite side of the state.

The partnership involves Horizon Machine, a Sturgis manufacturer specializing in firearm components, and Sioux Falls-based South Dakota Silencer.

Sound suppressors for South Dakota Silencer have been made for about six months by Horizon Machine, which will add 8,000 square feet onto its existing facility because of increased demand for those products.

“This is great news for both businesses. We have long said that firearm companies just make sense in South Dakota, and this partnership is a great example,” Gov. Daugaard said. “Sound suppression devices are gaining popularity among hunters and outdoorsmen, making silencers the fastest-growing segment of the firearm industry.”

Brandon Maddox, owner of South Dakota Silencer, said a South Dakota manufacturer is beneficial for his firm.

“Our sales have jumped 35 percent in North Dakota and South Dakota now that a Dakota-based business is manufacturing for us,” Maddox said. “We moved all of our production operations to South Dakota as well as our product that was already produced in Georgia.”

To accommodate the work-flow influx, Horizon Machine will break ground for its plant expansion this spring and also create an underground firing range for research and testing.

“Horizon Machine’s partnership with South Dakota Silencer, in addition to other growth we have been experiencing, really prompted this expansion,” said Dale Mack, President of Horizon Machine. “We produce .22-caliber, .223-caliber, and .308-caliber products, which cover 97 percent of the silencer market, and we are excited to see additional growth.”

Sturgis is home to 12 of South Dakota’s 49 firearm companies, and Pat Kurtenbach, President of the Sturgis Economic Development Corp., said the Horizon Machine expansion project is welcome news.

“We are excited about the expansion opportunities this provides the firearm manufacturing cluster in the Sturgis area,” Kurtenbach said. “It’s a great example of how in-state partnerships can create jobs and strengthen local economies.”

The Governor’s Office of Economic Development has actively supported and offered technical assistance to both companies. 

Horizon Machine is also pursuing military contracts for the silencers and recently displayed its products at the Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade (SHOT) Show in Las Vegas, Nevada.