APE APE December 2019 | Page 10

Advertorial COVER STORY Featuring platforms with higher horsepower, heavier-duty build and company’s renowned screed technology, Carlson has quickly emerged as a leader in commercial platforms. through significant customer input and our deep industry experience,” said Colwell. Just as 2008 ushered in a new era for Carlson, so too did 2019 when the company introduced its next gen- eration of asphalt paver. Debuted at the largest industry stage in the world at Bauma in Munich, Germany, the CP60 and CP65 represent not only the company’s entrance into the global paver market, but its continued growth as a paver manufacturer. Investing In The Future With the growth of its commercial paver lineup and emergence into the global market, Carlson saw the great- est constraint to its future growth was space. The company’s Tacoma factory, built in 1999 to accommodate Carl- son’s growth as a screed manufacturer, featured 45,000 square feet of office, manufacturing and warehouse space. But by 2017, serious discussion began to take place as the factory was press- ing the limits of its manufacturing ca- pacity. “In analyzing the increasing demand for all our products, and especially com- mercial pavers, we had to grow our exist- ing footprint,” explained Colwell. www.callape.com March 2018, with Phases Two and Tentative approval to expand came Three focusing on the construction of in late 2017, but it was a visit by then- the expanded factory footprint. The State Senator and future-Pierce Coun- project is on track to be completed by ty Executive Bruce Dammeier that sealed the project’s greenlighting. Tak- ing a strong inter- est in the company and recognizing its uniqueness and val- ue, Carlson quickly became a centerpiece in the newly elected County Executive’s plan for economic Pierce County Executive Bruce Dammeier (right) discusses with growth in surround- Carlson President Chris Colwell the importance of the company’s ing Pierce County. growth as a leading employer in the area. “Pierce County had faith in what we were doing and January 1, 2020. With a new state-of-the-art facility, knew what role we would play in the growing product lines and expanding growth in Frederickson,” said Colwell. opportunities here and abroad, it’s clear “Our expansion meant more family why even the Northwest’s dreary weath- wage jobs and more people employed locally. The fast tracking of the project er can’t dampen the confidence and op- timism the employees of Carlson feel as also meant that those jobs can come they enter the new decade. more quickly.” A multi-faceted project, the facto- ry expansion included the addition For more information, please contact of 80,000 s.f. of new manufacturing Travis Colwell, Marketing and Com- and office space. Construction began munications Coordinator at (253) with the groundbreaking of a new 875-8000 or by email at TColwell@ 160-space employee parking lot in carlsonpaving.com [10] 1.800.210.5923