AIRXCEL BREAKS GROUND ON EXPANSION OF WICHITA FACILITY
Oct 11, 2022-- Wichita, KS, October 11, 2022 – AIRXCEL® is expanding its operations in Wichita with the addition of a 125,000 square foot expansion for their MAXXAIR and COLEMAN-MACH™ brands. Groundbreaking ceremonies were held October 10 with Jeff Rutherford, Airxcel President and CEO, and Rob Leach, division president, taking the first shovels.
The development will include increasing capacity for Airxcel’s two Wichita based brands – COLEMAN-MACH and MAXXAIR. This will allow current product lines of air conditioners and accessories and warehouse operations of all raw and finished goods to be centralized in one location.
“Over the past several years, significant increased demand for our products have put our manufacturing operations under stress, impacting our ability to provide unparalleled service to our customers,” explained Rutherford. “Our partners will benefit greatly from the expansion because it allows us to increase the production capacity on our American-made air conditioners to ensure the timely delivery of orders. We are making a commitment now to ensure when industry volume does again increase, we are prepared to support future demand with products made locally and to not have our customers dependent on imported product from Asia.”
Rob Leach, division president commented, “We’re committed to our customers and our employees, and this expansion reinforces our unwavering commitment. COLEMAN-MACH has been supporting the industry since the first-ever RV roof-top AC was made in 1967, and MAXXAIR since 1989 – we’re in this for the long term and are excited about this expansion and the RV market.”
The project will be broken into two phases. Phase one will include the new 113,000 square foot expansion as well as the employee parking, secured employee entrance, and improvements to trucking logistics of increased volume. Phase one commenced on Monday, October 10, with groundbreaking. Phase two includes designs for a 12,000 square foot office expansion set to begin in 2023.
“With this expansion Airxcel is reinvesting in the MAXXAIR and COLEMAN-MACH brands, supporting our partnerships in the RV industry, and strengthening our commitment to the Wichita community that’s been our home for over 30 years,” said Rutherford.