There are countless businesses in the Quad Cities that operate under the radar of most residents. Sometimes that’s good, and sometimes that’s bad. Sometimes it takes 125 years to get on Quad Citians’ radar.
One of the latter is Parr Instrument Company. The privately owned Moline-based business — which makes laboratory research equipment including calorimeters, pressure vessels and chemical reactors — is celebrating its 125th anniversary with a major $22.5 million expansion project. It will more than double the size of its existing 211 53rd St., Moline, operation.
“A lot of people don’t know who we are or what we do because we’re a quiet company. Maybe we sell an occasional piece of equipment in the Quad Cities, but it’s very rare, so people wouldn’t necessarily know that we were here,” Jim Nelson, president and CEO of Parr Instrument, told the QCBJ.
He added, however, “Just about every college and university in the world probably has some sort of Parr device or instrument in it.”
In most years, some 50%-60% of Parr’s business is exported to other countries, and the company’s products are always in high demand. Last year, Parr posted a record $38 million in sales from equipment made and sold by skilled and often highly educated employees who receive industry leading pay and benefits, Mr. Nelson said.
Parr currently has 98 employees.
We appreciate Parr’s expansion in Moline’s East End. It wasn’t easy or likely due to flooding issues, but with persistence and some support from the city it was able to happen. We wish them another 125 years of success.
