Business is booming at BendPak, a manufacturer of car lifts and automotive service equipment. Less than six months after opening a 100,000-square-foot distribution center near Mobile, Alabama, to better serve customers on the east coast, the company is building a new 70,000-square-foot warehouse next door. At the same time, a 50,000-sq.ft. expansion of its Santa Paula, California, headquarters is on track for completion this month.

BendPak’s west coast headquarters underwent a 70,000-sq.ft. expansion in 2017, bringing its current footprint to more than 350,000 sq.ft. The new shipping and receiving facility will take that total to more than 400,000 sq.ft.

And just 30 days after opening its new Alabama distribution center in the spring, BendPak purchased the adjoining property to further expand its presence in the east. 

“It’s hard to believe that construction is already underway,” said BendPak Executive Vice President Jeff Kritzer. “When we initiate a plan, we don’t like to waste time. Once a decision is made, it’s all hands on deck. That’s one thing I think we do better than anyone else. The idea of our first east coast expansion only materialized in the fall of 2019, and yet just six short months later, we were already operational … and growing.” 

The company says demolition of an existing office building and warehouse on the property is now complete, and construction on the new facility is about to begin. The new building will feature four dock doors, a ramp with a super-wide door, warehouse space, and an additional 13,000 sq.ft. of covered flatbed staging and loading area. Administrative offices, a conference room, and a call center are also planned to facilitate further growth.

“This phase of expansion comes with an ambitious strategic vision, building upon our heritage of professional quality products,” said BendPak President and CEO Don Henthorn. “We are focused on bringing our car lifts and garage equipment geographically closer to our customers to improve lead times and customer service.”