Dean Machinery, a Caterpillar distributor, opened a new headquarters on October 13 in South Kansas City, Missouri. The new 25-acre campus houses two major buildings that provide the company with more than 180,000 square feet for service bays, parts capacity and other resources. The site is over three times the size of the old headquarters.
The 27,000-square-foot main shop can serve up to 18 large machines at one time. A 45,000-square-foot warehouse will lodge parts and inside component storage. Inside the main building is a 25,000-square-foot specialization shop for hydraulic repairs. Behind the main shop, a second building accommodates the track press, welding and fabrication areas and the machine shop. The company also has 10 acres west of the campus to use for future growth.
Many of the features at the new headquarters use sustainable technologies. For example, the main facility was engineered as a closed environment, meaning it is sealed off from the outside climate for more efficient energy use. The building is designed to use natural light when possible, and motion detectors control lighting to reduce electricity. A plan for recycling all materials possible is in place, and onsite renewable energy sources, like waste oil for heating, are used when viable.
