Packer Fastener will mount a 3.5-ton, 10-foot tall hex nut fabricated by Robinson Metals Inc. in front of its new headquarters on the northeast corner of South Ashland Avenue and Lombardi Avenue. Terry Albrecht, president of Packer, said it will give Green Bay claim to the world's largest hex nut.

"(The Guinness Book of World Records) confirmed there's currently not a category for the world's largest nut," Albrecht said. "But they're willing to open one up for us. It is indeed the world's largest, but we don't have the official Guinness stamp yet."

When Albrecht saw the gigantic replica of the Lombardi Trophy that De Pere's Robinson Metal produced, it gave him an idea.

"For many years, our slogan was 'We've got the biggest nuts in town,'" Albrecht said. "When we moved into this location, we thought it would be good to put our money where our mouths are. I approached one of the partners at Robinson with the idea and they found a way."

Neil VanLanen, the operations manager at Robinson, said it took the company's employees about five weeks to fabricate the 10-plus-foot, threaded hex nut from 3.5 tons of steel.

Albrecht said he hopes Greater Green Bay residents embrace and enjoy the company's contribution to the landscape.

"Our hope is to make it our own little landmark in the city," he said. "We think it'll be a good photo opportunity."

Source: Green Bay Press Gazette