Ozarks Tech dedicates Mueller Co. welding lab

Ozarks Technical Community College on Monday dedicated a welding lab space named in honor of a donation from Springfield-based stainless steel manufacturer Paul Mueller Co. (OTC: MUEL).

The Paul Mueller Co. Welding Lab is located inside Ozarks Tech's newly remodeled Industry Transportation and Technology Center, according to a news release. Mueller Co. contributed a six-figure donation in an undisclosed amount to name the lab, which serves as a central space for hands-on training in Ozarks Tech's welding technology program. 

“We’ve partnered with Ozarks Tech for years, from teaching students to helping guide the manufacturing advisory committee, so we’re proud to invest in the new Paul Mueller Co. Welding Lab,” said David Moore, Mueller Co. president and CEO, in the release. “We employ many Ozarks Tech graduates, and this lab is another way we’re building our future workforce by helping students sharpen their skills.”

A portion of Mueller Co.'s donation will be used for Ozarks Tech's student support fund that helps with expenses such as transportation, child care and groceries.

A longtime supporter of Ozarks Tech, Mueller Co. has been involved with the Ozarks Tech Foundation Golf Tournament since 2007 and was a contributor to the Robert W. Plaster Manufacturing Center, according to the release.

In the third quarter, Mueller Co. reported a 33% decrease in profits to $4.9 million, according to past reporting. 

The company's over-the-counter stock was trading at $475.76 as of 11:23 a.m., compared with a 52-week range of $184.06 to $575 per share.