NEW PARIS — The team behind the Indianapolis 500 is doing everything they can to make sure that the race benefits the state as well as business across Indiana. One such business that is benefitting from the nationally renown event is Merchants Metals in New Paris.

Merchants Metals builds everything from ornamental metal fences to PVC pipe white picket fences, and this year, they are in charge of putting together the fence to surround the track at the Indy 500.

Doug Boles, president of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and his team toured the manufacturing department at around 11 a.m. today, Monday, Oct. 26. The tour was led by Plant Manager Ernest Heiman.

Heiman taught the team exactly how the fence for the Indy 500 was made, from uncoiling metal wire, to it finally being wrapped and shipped to Indianapolis.

“Production on the fence began in September, and we hope to have it completed within the next two weeks,” Heiman noted, while mentioning the total length of the fence exceeds 30,000 feet.

“”We are happy to have been a part of it. The Indianapolis 500 is part of our state, and to know we were the ones to supply this material, it is a great feeling.”

With only 77 employees total at the manufacturing facility, the team has been hard at work everyday, ensuring the quality and stability of the fence.

The fencing is being replaced because the team wants to be able to make the fan experience better. “It was the right thing to do for our fans,” Boles said. “We tried to figure out how we could use Indiana contractors and businesses … and it all fit very well.”

Boles ended the tour with a short speech on the importance of the fence to the upcoming race. He said “the transformation of the fence will mean for our race fans race day is going to be amazing … It is amazing how well you can see through it, and the idea that it is an Indiana company that is helping the greatest racetrack in the world is pretty cool.”

“I think people 50 years from now will be talking about New Paris and the fence that has meant so much to our fans.”

Boles concluded by thanking the crew working on the fence, saying “Thank you guys for the project. It may seem like just another fence project to you, but its a fence project that will affect 300,000 people in the venue and probably close to ten million people watching it on TV.

“We are simply thrilled it is a Hoosier company that is doing the work for us.”