PREMIER Design + Build Group has just broken ground on a building expansion project for Sumitomo Drive Technologies in Glendale Heights, Ill. The work is designed to meet the evolving needs of the client, whose Midwest-manufactured products are in high demand from customers across a range of industries.

The company’s Glendale Heights location is used for light manufacturing of gearmotors, also known as “speed reducers.” Gearmotors are designed to regulate the speed at which motors run to match the speed needed for a customer’s application. The gearmotors produced by Sumitomo Drive Technologies are used in many industries including auto assembly, grain handling, water treatment, wood milling, and parcel handling. Sumitomo Drive Technologies is part of Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.

The manufacturer’s need to scale up its production capabilities is an interesting outgrowth of its long-term strategy. Prior to 2020, Sumitomo Drive Technologies made a commitment to investing in manufacturing within the United States. In the face of the challenges of the past several years, many of the company’s competitors were forced to shut down or severely reduce operations at overseas production facilities. Sumitomo Drive Technologies, however, was able to continue production in the Midwest, and demand for its products grew significantly.

Sumitomo Drive Technologies selected PREMIER to manage design + build services for the expansion of its existing facility, which is located at 175 W. Lake Drive within the Glendale Lakes Business Park. When complete, the building will have approximately 82,000 square feet with a 28’ clear height. In addition to more than doubling the existing footprint, PREMIER’s team will create a state-of-the art, fully modular crane building allowing seamless integration between assembly and distribution. The work includes installing new docks and doors, adding on-site parking, and updating landscaping. The building improvements will allow the firm to increase inventory space and offer a broader product line from its Midwest location. It will also improve lead times, operational efficiencies, and safety.

“We’re honored to have been chosen as the design-builder for this Sumitomo Drive Technologies assignment,” explained PREMIER’s Michael Long, Senior Vice President in the firm’s Midwest division. “They approached us with an interesting challenge, and we used our expertise to develop a solution designed to help them accomplish every one of the objectives they have established.” Working with Mr. Long on the assignment is Project Manager Stefan Olson. PREMIER’s project partners include Cornerstone Architects Ltd. for architectural design and SpaceCo for civil engineering.

“Michael Long and the PREMIER team have already proven themselves to be such an incredible asset,” according to Eduardo Plata, Corporate Project Manager for Sumitomo Machinery Corporation of America. “We’re so thankful to have found a project partner that is so knowledgeable and will guide us through this process and always look out for our best interests.”

“Reimagining and reshaping facilities to meet our clients’ evolving needs is the kind of challenge the team at PREMIER loves to take on,” said Long. “This is a client that was uniquely positioned to grow their business, and we’re excited to help them create a new home in which to continue that success.”

The project kicked off late last week with a groundbreaking, which included local officials and several Sumitomo Drive Technologies executives who traveled to Illinois from Japan to participate in the celebration. As part of the kickoff, Sumitomo Drive Technologies and PREMIER presented the nearby Glen Ellyn Food Pantry with a $5,000 donation to help fund its work across DuPage County.

About PREMIER Design + Build Group

PREMIER Design + Build Group is a leading design-build construction firm headquartered in Buffalo Grove, Ill. With a strong track record spanning several decades, PREMIER specializes in providing comprehensive solutions for industrial, commercial, healthcare, residential, retail, and mixed-use construction projects. The company’s unwavering commitment to quality, innovation, and customer service has earned it a reputation as a trusted partner in the industry.

About Sumitomo Drive Technologies

Sumitomo Drive Technologies is a brand of Sumitomo Machinery Corporation of America, one of the most respected names in the power transmission industry. As an industrial manufacturer of premium quality gearboxes, motors, and controls, we operate two prominent facilities – our Headquarters in Chesapeake, VA, and the Large Industrial Gear Unit Manufacturing and Assembly Facility in Verona. Our commitment to innovation, customer satisfaction, and comprehensive solutions makes us an industry leader in power transmission.