McAllister Equipment Co. (MEC) hosted a ground-breaking ceremony Nov. 29 for its new branch, located on 5958 Columbia Parkway in Rockford, Ill.

The 18,000 sq. ft. facility will open in April 2008, housing Volvo Rents and a heavy equipment store.

Present were McAllister management; William Charles Investments executives; Ragnar Benson associates; Scott Christiansen, Winnebago County board chairman; Einar Forsman, president, Rockford Chamber of Commerce; Jim Ryan, City of Rockford administrator; and press representatives from local TV stations and newspapers.

By opening a Volvo Rents, MEC will be afforded the synergies of a rental store that will allow short-term rentals of compact equipment.

“We’re expanding our presence in Rockford, Ill., because our relationship with our custumors has grown,” Jack Moser, president and CEO of MEC. “Our current facility is 4,000 sq. ft. and we made a decision to put a Volvo Rents operation and all of our business into one 18,000 sq. ft. building. Basically, we just had the building design and started digging dirt.”

MEC will be running a rental fleet out of the store, consisting of skid steer loaders, backhoe loaders, compact excavators and compact wheel loaders. Additionally, the store will be carrying auxiliary lines of contractor supplies, small generators, etc.

In order to handle the quick turn-around required for short-term rentals, the branch will have a drive-through wash bay in the back. This stand-alone building will help make the off-rent equipment rental-ready.

The branch will be self-reliant with a more consumer-type business model, including waiting room, cash register and its own accounting system.

The heavy equipment branch will be housed in the same building and will enjoy the spacious facilities as well. The branch will have a large, six-bay garage, an extensive parts warehouse, office and an open two-story reception area. From the front, the building will have visibility from Mulford Road and Harrison Avenue and will have equipment on display pads. In the rear, there will be an access road to the Mulford quarry. The quarry will serve as an equipment demonstration site, excess inventory storage and a great place to “road-test” service repairs. The company’s manufacturers may also use the quarry for new product development and testing.

Established in 1955, McAllister Equipment Co. is a full-service construction equipment dealership headquartered in Alsip, Illinois with locations in E. Peoria, Ingleside, Lockport and Rockford and Ixonia, Wisconsin. Representing leading product lines like Astec Mobile Screens, Broce Broom, Gorman-Rupp, Kolberg-Pioneer, Link-Belt Cranes, NPK, Sakai and Volvo Construction Equipment, MEC caters to virtually every segment of the construction, industrial and municipal markets.

For more information, call 800/323-8761 or visit www.mcallisterequipment.com.

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