MUNCY - On any given day at Palcon, LLC, you're might see Barry Moon adjusting equipment inside the plant room floor.
Or, owner Matt Carey checking on the progress of employees at his pallet-making operation.
"We have a great staff," Carey said, while leading a tour of his plant at 1759 Limebluff Road.
Palcon churns out between 3,000 and 5,000 pallets a week, but it's also embracing environmentally friendly business practices to help reduce the carbon footprint.
Although the down economy adversely impacted the company just a bit, things have improved, he said.
"We also do crating," he said. "That's kind of a growing segment of our business."
The crates can be designed and manufactured to clients' specific needs.
The company manufactures more than 300 sizes of pallets, skids and crates.
Carey said he takes pride in the company's green technology.
The company recycles lumber scraps and damaged pallets into wood products, particularly mulch.
Thousands of yards of natural and colored mulch is sold to customers.
"Recycling is becoming a pretty large part of what we do," he said.
Palcon works with Weaver Express Erosion Control Solutions, Masillon, Ohio in erosion control, streambank stabilization and related activities.
Weaver produces compost filtersocks and compost blankets and leases space from Palcon.
The SiltSoxx, produced by Weaver, is a mesh tube filled with mulch material that works in erosion control, particularly at construction sites.
"It gives us a year-round outlet for our mulch," Carey said.
Palcon also produces wood pellets from renewable wood substances.
Pellets can serve as a clean and cost-effective alternative for home heating needs.
But pallet-manufacturing remains the largest part of the business.
Carey said the company gets much of its wood for the pallets from local sawmills.
"We don't cut trees down to make pallets," he said.
The pallets can be custom-designed to fit the business or customer.
Among the different types are:
- GMA pallets.
- Economy pallets.
- Specialty pallets.
- HT pallets.
- DT pallets.
- Skids.
- Plastic pallets.
Palcon was started in 1975 by Carey's father, Dan, as DF Carey Lumber & Pallet.
The company employs 15 people.
Some of the key people in the operation include Moon, who heads up maintenance; Alex Seyler, chief financial officer and office manager; Bryan Stamm, general manager/sales; and Jamie Lundy, customer service.
