COVID-19 News: Daktronics in Redwood Falls set to resume production Monday

Daktronics headquarters, in Brookings, South Dakota announced production will resume at its factory in Redwood Falls on April 13 as demand for communication products remains steady. 

Redwood Falls Plant Manager Tom Quackenbush said, “It is essential that we reopen to meet customer needs. Our sister factories in Brookings and Sioux Falls have continued to work during this time, and some of our work supports them and their customers.”

As a manufacturer and distributor of communications equipment, Daktronics is exempt from Governor Walz’s executive order closing some businesses. Daktronics temporarily suspended its Minnesota manufacturing operations on March 28 in response to Governor Walz’s executive stay-at-home order and the factory’s production schedule. 

Daktronics maintains health and safety measures in its Redwood Falls facility which meet the Minnesota Occupational Safety and Health Standards as well as the Minnesota Department of Health and CDC guidelines related to COVID-19.

Employees working in factories and buildings:

• As it is essential for them to be on the premises to do their work, the factory has implemented zones, with a small number of people per zone and rigorously restricted movement between zones to minimize in-person contact. This includes parking areas, entrances, break areas and restrooms.
• The factory has implemented additional cleaning and hygiene safeguards following CDC guidelines, and is prepared for rapid response and are cleaning zones frequently so people can continue to work.
• The factory will require employees who are ill or have COVID-19 symptoms to stay home and not report to work.
• The factory will have contingency plans for cleaning and work stoppage within zones if an employee tests positive for COVID-19. 
• Hand washing stations are located throughout our campus and disinfectants in break areas. 
• The factory is not accepting visitors.

Quackenbush stated, “As people return to work, they can be confident we are taking precautions and implementing plans consistent with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization recommendations.” The company is also working closely with the National Association of Manufacturers and their guidance and direction to ensure worker safety. 

To help reduce the spread of COVID-19, Daktronics has also provided COVID-19 related content for free to assist customers in communicating important, timely information on their displays. This content has been downloaded thousands of times in recent weeks.