Bentley World Packaging Ltd., a Milwaukee-based packaging firm that specializes in preparing large industrial materials for export or long-distance transportation, has leased an approximate 340,000 square foot building at 10001 S. Howell Ave. in Oak Creek, which the company will use for packaging materials made by Oshkosh Corp., said Tom Bentley III, owner and CEO.
The building was formerly used by Case New Holland, Bentley said. The company hopes to have the new facility open and operational by late April.
“We’re already in there with Oshkosh, setting up tables and aisles,” Bentley said. “We’re doing prep work now. Over the next six weeks we’ll be starting to get in there pretty heavily.”
Bentley, which has a series of warehouses and packaging facilities throughout metro Milwaukee, will ultimately consolidate several of its operations into the new Oak Creek facility. However, the company is not yet sure which of its facilities will move there.
The Oak Creek facility, which is just south of General Mitchell International Airport, is a good fit for Bentley because of the large amount of work it is now performing for Oshkosh Corp. Much of that work is exported to military operations in other countries, so the close proximity to the airport reduces transportation costs and increases order turn times.
“We love the south side of Milwaukee because of the logistics with air freight to (Chicago’s) O’Hare and the Port of Milwaukee,” Bentley said. “We have lots of vendors coming in and out, and this can help us avoid Milwaukee’s rush hour traffic. And there are very few large distribution facilities in the south Milwaukee area that have high ceilings and are good, efficient buildings. We were glad to grab this one.”
