The next chapter of Fischer Mining is underway in Empire Township, Minnesota.
With several decades of mining sand and gravel at a pit in nearby Apple Valley, company leaders recognized several years ago that the time had arrived to establish a second production site in their operating area south of Minneapolis.
The thought behind having a second site was that Fischer Mining’s reserves in Apple Valley would be nearing an end in the coming years. A new site would be necessary to supply AVR, a Fischer Mining affiliate that produces ready-mixed concrete, as well as other customers.
Fischer Mining ultimately opened a second sand and gravel operation in Empire Township five years ago. The company’s transition to mining exclusively in Empire Township is ongoing.
“With Empire Township being so close to Apple Valley, which we call Plant 1, some of the burden is being taken away from there,” says Nick Oster, general manager at Fischer Mining. “But we needed to get something set up in Empire Township for when Apple Valley closes.”
A plant for the times
Fischer Mining’s five-year-old plant in Empire Township features an assortment of equipment from Minnesota-based Superior Industries.
A mobile jaw crusher, wet screens and an Aggredry washing system are among the plant components from Superior. Portable TeleStacker conveyors are part of the plant, as well.
As Fischer Mining eventually transitions to Empire Township full-time, Oster expects the plant to meet the high demands of the Minneapolis market.
“The south metro is really building up quite a bit,” Oster says. “It’s led to us having another good year this year. The building and demand are so high. Our year this year is very similar to last year – if not better. Sales and production are up for us.”
Fischer Mining tends to perform as AVR does. And AVR has been humming along nicely of late, according to Oster.
“We kind of go as ready-mixed concrete goes,” he says. “They buy a lot of our sand and gravel. A lot of our product goes to our own company. “They do commercial and residential, plus a lot of curb and gutter work.”
Minnesota State Curb & Gutter happens to be an affiliate of Fischer Mining.
“Eighty percent of our material goes toward our ready-mix concrete, which probably splits the middle on residential and commercial,” Oster says. “Residential building hasn’t stopped. I’ve been talking to a lot of the builders in the area, and it doesn’t sound like it’s going to stop next year.”
Finishing touch
In addition to churning out sand and gravel, a focus for Fisher Mining is the reclamation of the site around Plant 1 in Apple Valley.
Some of the Apple Valley pit has already been reclaimed and transitioned to a variety of uses. A HealthPartners clinic is among the latest establishments to pop up on the old mine property.
