MELROSE PARK, IL--Audiovisual mounting solutions manufacturer Peerless Industries, Inc. today announced a new 307,813-square-foot headquarters in suburban Chicago that will allow the company to consolidate its Illinois and China facilities, making Peerless the only major domestic mount producer with a 100% U.S.-based manufacturing operation.
- The move will replace four older buildings on two campuses in Illinois as well as a plant in China with a single modern and energy-efficient facility located on 22.5 acres along the Interstate 88 Research & Development Corridor in Aurora, IL, 26 miles from the company’s current Melrose Park location.
Benefits for the company and its customers will include cost efficiencies, shorter lead times, local control over manufacturing processes, lower carbon footprint, and the ability to pursue a variety of green initiatives that previously were not possible because of the age of Peerless’ buildings.
The new headquarters already has LEED green building certification. Peerless plans a series of environmental upgrades that will further reduce energy use and related costs. Solar panels and wind turbines will be installed to generate sustainable low-cost power for the building, highly efficient T5 fluorescent fixtures will be used for lighting, and heat from Peerless’ powder coating ovens will be recycled to heat the plant in the winter.
“We need more space, we want to merge all operations to reduce operating expenses, and we are committed to being environmentally responsible as well as returning all manufacturing to the U.S. to shorten lead times and regain complete control,” said Michael A. Campagna, president/COO of Peerless Industries. “Our new headquarters will allow us to achieve all of those objectives, keep costs low, and ensure that we provide the best and most reliable mounting solutions available.”
Peerless plans to begin manufacturing operations in the new facility in May. The company will be adding 22,000 square feet of office space that is scheduled for fall completion. The size of the property also offers the option to add up to 180,000 square feet of manufacturing space as needed.
It will be Peerless’ fourth move since the company was founded in Melrose Park 68 years ago. In 2009 the company added a European headquarters with the acquisition of BBG Distribution Ltd., a leading distributor of European audio/visual attachment and peripheral brands based in the United Kingdom. The merger extended Peerless’ footprint into the UK market as well as providing a springboard for additional global expansion.
