Hipower Systems Announces $42M Manufacturing Facility in Olathe, Kansas
Move expected to nearly triple the firm’s U.S. workforce
Hipower Systems, a manufacturer of power generation and power distribution equipment in the U.S. and Canada, today announced it is finalizing the purchase of a $24 million, 515,000 square foot (sq. ft.) industrial building in Olathe, Kan. Located at the corner of 167th Street and Lone Elm Road, the building will become the firm’s new corporate headquarters when it opens (tentatively slated for September 2017). All operations—from design, engineering and manufacturing to sales and support—will be housed within the new facility, including production of the firm’s upcoming, newly designed and engineered, Tier 4 Final-compliant portable generators.
“With corporate ties to both Spain (Himoinsa, S.L.) and Japan (Yanmar Co. Ltd), we could have built this factory anywhere in the world, but Hipower Systems is fully committed to maintaining our Made in the USA approach,” said Hipower Systems President Rafael Acosta. “Our U.S. expansion provides capacity for production of our new Tier 4 Final portable line and high-capacity, MTU Detroit Diesel and Waukesha natural gas-powered gensets. We will also be able to manufacture generators for Western Hemisphere countries, such as those in Mexico and South America, that require 60 Hz power—all while helping grow America’s economic base and workforce.”
In the first year alone, Hipower Systems will make a multi-million-dollar investment in building improvements, which is nearly five times the size of its current facility. It will also purchase and install at least $11 million in high-tech machinery to support its specialized engineering and manufacturing processes. After beginning operations with approximately 40 workers, the new plant will accommodate anticipated workforce growth of up to 75 additional employees over the next few years.
“We have always envisioned constructing a fully independent ‘super factory’ in North America, where engineering and manufacturing processes would utilize the most high-tech equipment available,” said Acosta. “Thanks to the support of the Olathe City Council and the state of Kansas, we are able to construct one of the world’s most innovation-driven manufacturing plants in the state—and even the same area—where we made our first U.S. generator sale.”
HIPOWER SYSTEMS TIMELINE
2004: Hipower Systems opens an office with one employee and begins marketing and selling a full selection of power equipment from a warehouse in Lenexa, Kan.
2009: The first Hipower Systems assembly line is developed inside its Kansas warehouse.
2010: Hipower Systems initiates manufacturing operations. More than 1,000 generators are sold during the first full year of operation.
2012: Hipower Systems’ custom-built, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility opens. Total generator sales surpass 2,000.
2013: The company expands twice, developing and launching a full line of natural gas (NG) generators for Oilfield and Standby applications.
2014: Hipower Systems generators are named “Best New Product of the Year” by Consulting-Specifying Engineer for the Emergency, On-Site, Standby Power category. Total generator sales surpass 3,000.
2015: Hipower Systems natural gas generators sold for Oilfield operations reaches nearly 1,000. The company becomes the first generator manufacturer to use EPA-approved Waukesha gas engines in its portable gensets.
2016: A 5,000 sq. ft. retail and service store opens in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The entire Hipower Systems line is certified to withstand wind speeds of up to 180 MPH. Total generator sales surpass 4,000.
2017: The new factory will open in Olathe, Kan. The new line of Tier 4 Final portable generators will begin production.
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