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Chicago Tribune
04-07-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Flender Corp. starts work on new 124,500-square-foot warehouse in Elgin
Flender Corp. has broken ground on a 124,500-square-foot warehouse adjacent to its 16-year-old building on Madeline Drive in Elgin. Flender, a German-based company that supplies gearboxes, generators and services for wind turbines and related industries, is ready to continue its growth in that field, Flender President Kerry Klein said. 'By enhancing our service capabilities, we are poised to significantly improve lead times, efficiency and cost effectiveness, reinforcing our position as a leader in both industry and wind service sectors,' Klein said. In addition to providing warehouse space, the new Elgin building will have in-house gear regrinding capabilities and provide consolidated storage, a news release on the expansion said. Flender will celebrate its 50th anniversary in Elgin in 2026, the same year the warehouse will be ready for use. Its first building in Elgin on Tollgate Road was used until 2014, initially used to manufacture parts and assembled pump jack gear boxes for the oil industry, Klein said. 'The pump jack market fell out immediately after we built the first plant in 1976, and we immediately pivoted to other industrial applications,' he said. That meant transitioning to assembling and servicing gear boxes and other parts and equipment used for plastic extrusion, wastewater treatment, conveyor systems for moving gravel and coal, and for systems used to process cement. Wind energy turbines came into the picture in the late 1990s, Klein said, and repairing and repowering their gear boxes now accounts for 60% of the company's business. In 2009, Flender opened in its current Elgin location, a 230,000-square-foot building it now leases from Brookstone, Klein said. The new facility will cost about $22 million to build, with Flender leasing it from Pancor. 'This is the last available lot in the industrial park in that area,' Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Carol Gieske said. Klein said Elgin is a great location for the company for many reasons. 'A good amount of the equipment we assemble and service is very large and very heavy. So having access to highways is important, as is being centrally located,' he said. The Elgin area also is less expensive than other areas in the Chicago market and has a good talent pool from which to fill their office and industrial jobs, Klein said. Flender currently employs 175 people at its Elgin location. Under a 2023 agreement with the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for tax credits, the company needs to expand its Elgin operations and to employ 190 people by the time the new building opens in early 2026. One challenge Flender and other wind energy-related businesses are facing in the United States is the newly passed federal budget bill. The legislation will allow renewable energy projects that begin construction by 2026 or come online by 2027 to receive tax credits, which is slightly less restrictive than a previous version of the bill, published reports said. That could make Flender and other wind energy businesses very busy during that time frame before things slow down, Klein said. Over the decades the wind energy industry has faced political challenges, he said. 'It's here to stay, regardless of politics,' Klein said. 'Growth may be slower, particularly in the United States, but there will still be growth.' A big reason will be the increased demand for power brought on by AI, data centers, factories, electric vehicles and other consumer goods, he said. To meet that demand, various energy sources will have to be utilized. 'Wind energy is not the whole solution, but it's definitely part of the equation,' Klein said.
CNN
12-03-2025
- Business
- CNN
The 10 best Walmart deals to shop this week: Sony, Brookstone, Fitbit and more
CNN Underscored editors found the best sales at Walmart right now, including deals on a Hamilton Beach coffee maker, a ghd flat iron and Serta pillows. Sony WH-1000XM5 in Black Our top pick for the best over-ear headphones is just $7 away from the lowest price we've ever seen from back in December. The upgraded design is slimmer than the older XM4, and the noise cancellation capabilities are even better on the newer our review Brookstone Portable Cold Plunge Cold plunging is one of those fitness trends that seems more accessible than others. If you want to give it a go, this portable therapy tub from Brookstone is an affordable way to dip your toes into the trend. Now, it's $12 lower than our initial spotting in early January. ghd Platinum + Styler At the start of the New Year, this handy flat iron was $126. Today, it's even lower and is now a whopping 60% off. If you're looking to up your hair game and want to put the finishing touches on your blowout, this gadget is for you. Ego Home Single Queen Bed Pillow It is Sleep Week after all, and Walmart has decided to enter the chat with more than 80% off this queen-sized pillow. It usually goes for around $20, but today it is even less, making it significantly cheaper than all of our best pillow picks. Samsung 40mm Galaxy Watch 4 in Black Android users can join in on the smartwatch fun with this heavily discounted model from 2021. The starting price was initially on the entry-level side for a tech wearable at $250, but now the feature-filled watch is $125 in the sleek black our review Hamilton Beach Bold Brew 12-Cup Programmable Drip Coffee Maker Prep your morning brew and get a jump start on those busy mornings with this deal on a classic drip coffee maker. Sometimes, all you want is a basic cup of joe, and this discounted machine delivers. It's a few dollars cheaper than our last spotting, making this appliance an even better buy. Ninja Thirsti Drink System If you live alone or don't want to commit to an entire liter of soda, the Ninja Thirsti is here to save the day. It allows you to make a singular glass to curb your craving and comes with a wide range of flavor drops for personalized creativity in the our review The Pioneer Woman 6-Piece Mixing Bowls With Lids Set These convenient mixing bowls have been on my radar for months. After initially spotting them during Black Friday and again last month, I'm happy to see they've dropped further in price ahead of the upcoming spring holiday hosting season. Fitbit Versa Lite The easy-to-use, Fitbit Versa Lite, just dropped to an all-time low price at Walmart. Today's offer is beating its previous low from 2019 by about $10 and is a great entry-level wearable for those interested in basic fitness tracking. Bifanuo Double Wicker Swing Egg Chair With Stand If the warmer weather has inspired you to take on a bit of spring cleaning in your yard, it may be time to invest in some outdoor seating. This plush swinging chair has UV-resistant cushions that will help minimize fading over time. We tracked the price of this model in the past, and luckily, it's even lower today. Our deals team has over a decade of combined commerce journalism experience. Rikka Altland, Jacqueline Saguin and Elena Matarazzo source the deals for the day each morning to curate one-offs and retailer-specific roundups of the best sales to shop. Searching everything from coveted tech essentials to beauty finds of the week, the team works across a wide variety of categories to ensure we're finding the best for our readers.
