A startup company is getting ready for operation in the Jobs Inc. Industrial Park in the south of Albert Lea.

Superior Corrugated Box, Inc. was launched by Chief Executive Officer Rod Krebsbach on Oct. 1. &uot;I thought it was the time to have my own business,&uot; Krebsbach, who was the general manager at Interstate Packaging Inc., said.

The installation of equipment in the 30,000 square-foot office and factory space is underway. Though the economy is still shaky, Krebsbach said there are also advantages to starting the business now, with lower interest rates and equipment prices. The City of Albert Lea gave a $165,000 seven-year loan for the firm to purchase the equipment.

The company will be the third corrugated-box manufacturer in the city. Krebsbach said he will target small businesses and service shops in a 150-mile radius, cultivating a new market to avoid direct competition. He expects 4 million square feet of production for the first year.