HYDAC Technology Corp., a German hydraulic systems and fluid engineering company, is gearing up for the opening of a new $3 million manufacturing building on the West Plains that will replace a smaller facility in western Washington, says Jason Becker, vice president of sales, western region at HYDAC.

The new one-story, 19,500-square-foot facility is located on three acres of land at 1615 Willow, in the Cheney Industrial & Commerce Park at the south end of the city.

HYDAC, which is short for hydraulic accumulator, is establishing offices, manufacturing space, and warehouse areas at the site.

"Roughly one-third of the building is office space, with conference rooms, offices, cubicles, and a break room," Becker says, adding that 20% of the remaining space in the facility is dedicated to warehousing. The rest of the building will be used for manufacturing purposes.

The facility will accommodate the production of hydraulic accessories, such as valves, pumps, and motors, that are used in construction equipment, including in tractors, trenchers, backhoes, and man lifts. 

Two 40-foot production lines will be installed that will support a wide range of equipment, from small, 5-pound accessories to systems that weigh between 25 pounds and 3,000 pounds.

"(Customers) will bring us a machine with nothing installed, and then we take it from there and design the hydraulic systems, electrical systems, and some mechanical systems," Becker says. "In our business, we do a little bit of everything." 

HYDAC's new manufacturing plant was constructed using site-cast concrete insulated panels to avoid the use of internal insulation, maintain cleanliness, and align with the company's global aesthetic which features a red, white, and gray design scheme.

"It's much better for manufacturing cleanliness, which is important to us,"  Becker says. 

Spokane-based Baker Construction & Development Inc. is the general contractor for the facility, and Bernardo Wills, also of Spokane, designed the project.

Construction of the HYDAC building began in February 2024, and the exterior of the building was completed in December. Interior work is expected to wrap up this month followed by a grand opening ceremony scheduled at the property on March 13. 

Manufacturing equipment is currently being transferred from the company's 10,000-square-foot Vancouver, Washington, location to be installed at the Cheney site.

"We were just leasing a facility in Vancouver that we outgrew, and it was time to either lease a bigger space, or in this case, build something ourselves," he says. "We're about double the size now."

HYDAC customers include companies such as La Grande, Oregon-based Barreto Manufacturing Inc., which makes equipment for customer rentals at building supply stores including Home Depot, and Genie, a Terex-brand company based in Bothell, Washington, that makes lift machines.

The decision to invest in a manufacturing plant on the West Plains was a strategic move for HYDAC that will provide increased production space, convenient customer access for equipment testing and design collaboration, and gives the company access to a capable workforce located in a friendlier business climate.

"The labor force is much better over here for what we do, and even from a cost standpoint, it was less expensive to put up a facility here than it is on the west side," says Becker.

The company has hired 12 employees to work at the Cheney site to start. Additional hiring is expected as the company secures more work.

"The current staffing level will accommodate our current business," says Becker. "We're quoting additional projects right now that would include having to hire additional folks to support it."

With the completion of the West Plains facility, HYDAC is better positioned in the event the company decides to increase the company's U.S.-based manufacturing lines.

"We're a German-based company, and because of the global situation, in the future ... we're looking at bringing over more manufacturing to the U.S.," he says.

HYDAC was established in 1963 as a hydraulic accessories provider. The international company currently has over 10,000 employees, 50 branch offices, and 500 global trade and service partners, according to the company's website.

Project Updates

*Evan Verduin, principal of Trek Architecture, has submitted a new commercial building permit application to the city of Spokane for Seattle-based Eastmark Capital Group LLC's Riverpoint Multifamily apartment development, in Spokane's University District.

The application, currently under review, is for a $10 million, five-story, 57,600-square-foot apartment building with 65 living units, application information shows.

The site has no assigned address, but the property is located east of Spokane's downtown core and south of Spokane River on vacant land near the entrance to the Riverpoint Village condominium complex.

Spokane-based Walker Construction Inc. is the general contractor, and Trek Architecture designed the market rate apartment project.

*Indianapolis-based Marathon Health LLC has proposed an $800,000 tenant-improvement project for a new health clinic at 201 W. North River Drive, in Spokane. 

Plans call for the development of a 2,000-square-foot clinic featuring a waiting area, exam rooms, lab nurse's station, offices, and support areas on the top floor of the six-story multitenant office building.

Spokane Valley-based Lydig Construction Inc. is the contractor; Spokane-based Ford & Associates Architects Inc., is the architect; and Columbus, Ohio-based Catalyst Engineering LLC is providing engineering services, permit information shows.