Design Contract Awarded for New Printing Plant in Kansas

---

Researched by Industrialinfo.com (Industrial Information Resources, Incorporated; Houston, Texas). Hutton Construction Corporation (Wichita, Kansas) has been awarded the design contract by the Lowen Corporation (Hutchinson, Kansas) for a new $16 million screen and digital printing plant in Hutchinson, Kansas.

Initial plans are to construct a 140,000 square foot building to be located on a 20-acre site in the city's Airport Industrial Park II at the corner of 11th and Airport Road. The new plant will be built with an eye on the future and with the intention of expanding it up to 200,000 square feet. The project will involve installation of new automation equipment, digital printing equipment, a new warehouse, and sales and administrative space, which will allow the company to expand its production capabilities within the state. Preliminary design and site work are currently being performed. Once designs are complete, the company will select a general contractor to provide construction services. Groundbreaking is anticipated to begin in the spring of 2006 with overall completion slated for late fall 2006. The new plant will enable Lowen to continue serving its customers, which include realtors, homebuilders, and major companies like Frito-Lay, FED/EX, USPS, Tyson Foods, Kroger and Anheuser-Busch.

The Lowen Corporation was founded in 1950 by C.W. Lowen as a sign painting shop in the garage behind his home. In 1970, the company employed 79 people and by the year 2000, the number grew to 276. The company currently employs approximately 330 people with an annual payroll of about $7.8 million. The company is comprised of two operations divisions: the Lowen Sign Company, the nation's leading manufacturer of real estate related signage, and Lowen Color Graphics, a leader in the design and manufacture of fleet, promotional and OEM graphics. Lowen currently occupies seven facilities in Hutchinson, Kansas and has grown to become one of the largest screen and digital printing companies in the United States.

View Plant Profile - 1066986
View Project Profile - 33000923

Industrial Information Resources (IIR) is a Marketing Information Service company that has been doing business for over 22 years. IIR is respected as a leader in providing comprehensive market intelligence pertaining to the industrial processing, heavy manufacturing, and energy-related industries throughout the world.