Dec 28 2008
One of the country's largest producers of precast concrete is bringing convenience and cost savings closer to many of its Midwestern customers. IPC has opened a new state-of-the-art production facility in Pleasanton, Kansas, making their products more accessible and cost-efficient for customers in Kansas, Oklahoma, Missouri and Arkansas.
"We saw a void in the Midwestern territory," said Dirk McClure, LEED AP, Associate AIA and IPC regional sales manager. "Moving our products and services closer to this market means cost savings in freight expenses, and we pass those savings on to our customers."
The new facility has indoor production beds and a highly sophisticated batch plant. Several buildings, including the batch plant, were built on site with IPC's own double tee wall panels. The facility provides a controlled environment for mixing cement, aggregate and color admixtures, helping to ensure high quality end products.
Stacy McIntyre, project manager for Rau Construction of Kansas City, said his company is using IPC precast products for the first time in several projects, including two parking garages and a bank. The projects incorporate IPC precast panels, including retaining wall and foundation panels, double tee's and columns. McIntyre said the new Pleasanton plant "has given IPC a fairly local plant to ship from, saving on the shipping costs in the KC area."
Although still early in their working relationship, McIntyre said his experience with IPC has been very successful thus far. "IPC's preconstruction services, including the three dimensional modeling software (BIM), has been an excellent tool to help show the perspective owners what the structures will look like after the project is completed," said McIntyre. "It has also expedited the design phase of the projects by making changes to the projects without delay and at a moment's notice."
Pleasanton is located approximately 55 miles south of Kansas City. The plant started producing in June of 2007 with a full line of capabilities and currently has 22 full-time employees.