Autoline Industries, LLC, a manufacturer and distributor of high performance aftermarket automotive parts, announced plans for a new 70,000 square foot manufacturing facility and corporate headquarters at the northeast corner of Broadway Road and Country Club Drive in Mesa, Arizona.
“After carefully evaluating a number of prospective locations, Autoline Industries elected to purchase the site which offered a unique opportunity to triple the size of their facility in order to keep up with the growing global demand for their product line. The new facility will allow Autoline Industries to migrate the manufacturing process from Asia, back to the United States; specifically to the City of Mesa. The benefits of this transition include increased quality control with a highly skilled American workforce, lower transportation costs, faster delivery to vendors, and greater flexibility to develop new products to stay at the leading edge of their field in the high performance auto parts industry,” said Gabe Ortega with NAI Horizon, the real estate broker who represented Autoline Industries in the property acquisition. The property, located at 254 W Broadway, sits on ±4.15 acres and boasts over 1,000 feet of frontage on Broadway.
In addition to boosting Autoline Industries’ manufacturing and distribution efficiency, the new facility will also benefit the surrounding community. Autoline Industries is projected to grow its workforce to nine times its current size, adding skilled labor positions such as product development engineers, CNC machinists, and CNC machine programmers; as well as additional positions in shipping and receiving. Autoline Industries recognized the talented workforce in the surrounding area with the many aerospace contractors and tech firms that are headquartered in Mesa, and will look to that caliber of talent to take the company to the next level. The local City of Mesa government officials recognized the long term employment opportunity and were instrumental in assisting Autoline Industries throughout the acquisition process.
The building was originally built in the 1930’s and received a number of additions in the 70’s and 90’s, while operating as a citrus packing plant by Sunkist / Mesa Citrus Growers (cooperative). In 2010 the citrus packing plant shut down and the building has remained vacant ever since. The citrus packing plant building once stood for the economic vitality that the native citrus fruit brought to the area for the past 75 years. After the renovation to convert the building to a state of the art manufacturing facility is complete, the 70,000 square foot property will symbolize the economic vitality of the downtown Mesa community for the next 75 years. “Mesa has what global companies like Autoline Industries need to expand their businesses,” Mayor John Giles said. “We are always excited to help growing companies bring their manufacturing and jobs back to the United States. Autoline Industries will be a great addition to the area and I wish them the best of success.”
Autoline Industries has engaged local architect and creative dynamo, Jack Debartolo for the multi-million dollar renovation of the property. Autoline Industries intends to retain the historical character of the building, with the exterior to be renewed and revitalized upon completion. The interior will undergo a significant renovation to handle the high tech machinery that will be utilized in the manufacturing of their parts. Construction on the facility is slated to start in April.
