Federal Manufacturing Co. will move from its existing location in Milwaukee’s Walker’s Point neighborhood to a new 78,000-square-foot building that will be built in the city of Pewaukee.
The move was announced by Loveland, Ohio-based Pro Mach Inc., which acquired Federal Mfg. last year. The relocation will allow Federal Mfg. to consolidate its operations and could open up opportunities for new development in Walker’s Point, one of the hottest neighborhoods for development in the city.
The new building will be constructed on an 8-acre site at N15 W23500 Stone Ridge Dr. in the RidgeView Corporate Park, located northwest of I-94 and Highway F in Pewaukee.
“It is bittersweet to be leaving our facility here in the Walker’s Point neighborhood,” said Frank Johanek, vice president and general manager of Federal Mfg. “We simply need more space to accommodate national and international sales growth, a state-of-the-art space that supports 21st century manufacturing technology and practices. We’re pleased to be staying close to the area and community where it all started for us.”
Federal Mfg. says it plans to increase its workforce by 10 percent over the next 18 months, but declined to disclose its total current employment. Information filed with the city of Pewaukee indicates the company’s building there will have 75 employees.
The new building will allow Federal Mfg. to consolidate its operations under one roof. The company owns six properties with four buildings and two vacant lots in Walker’s Point including its main building at 201 W. Walker St. and property at 829 S. 1st St., 822 S. 2nd St., 838 S. 2nd St., 902 S. 2nd St. and 1117 S. 2nd St.
The company currently has no plans for Federal Mfg.’s existing properties, Eklund said.
Walker’s Point has been an active area for development and redevelopment projects in recent years so the properties could attract interest from developers.
“I think there’s been some interest in some of these buildings, Eklund said.
For the new Federal Mfg. building in Pewaukee, Interstate Partners LLC and Milwaukee-based Zilber Property Group are the site developers for the project.
Kevin Barry of Cassidy Turley Barry represented Pro Mach and Federal Mfg. to broker the deal in Pewaukee.
The Pewaukee building is being designed by Milwaukee-based Eppstein Uhen Architects and will be built by Butler-based Berghammer Construction Corp. Milwaukee-based Oberhofer Group was hired to coordinate Federal Mfg.’s relocation.
A groundbreaking ceremony for the project will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 12. The project is expected to be complete in the summer of 2014.
The project, first reported by BizTimes in August, is one of five industrial buildings that Interstate Partners plans to develop in Pewaukee.
Federal Mfg. manufactures liquid filling and capping machines for the dair, juice, specialty drink, chemical, coatings and pharmaceutical industries.
Pro Mach owns a portfolio of 20 packaging equipment brands.
“One of the things we identified during our early discussions with Federal was that the business needed more and newer space for manufacturing,” said Mark Anderson, president and CEO of Pro Mach. “We are proud to be moving forward with Federal’s growth plan and making a significant investment in the greater Milwaukee metropolitan area and supporting local job growth.”
