Story posted Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Grainger Leaving Niles
W.W. Grainger, a leading distributor of facilities maintenance supplies, is moving its distribution center out of Niles in 2012.
The 750,000 sq. ft. facility, 5959 W. Howard St., is one of 18 distribution centers in Grainger's worldwide network. It is being replaced by a million-square-foot facility about 50 miles southwest of Chicago in Minooka.
The company provides products and services such as office supplies and ventilation systems to help customers with building needs.
"We have more than doubled our product offerings over the past several years and we need to grow," said Laurie Zelalinski, director of logistics engineering.
Zelalinski said the company is working with the 375 employees at the Niles distribution center to bring them over to the new location.
"They know their jobs inside and out," she said. Which is why Grainger is getting their input on the Minooka facility's design.
The new facility, which will be the central distribution center for the entire country, will initially employ about 400 warehouse and logistics personnel.
The center, one of 10 in the United States, will house more than 450,000 industrial supply items such as heating and air condition equipment, power tools, and electrical supplies.
The Lake Forest-based company was founded in Chicago in 1927 and operates more than 20 locations in Illinois. The $6.9 billion company has more than 600 branches worldwide, including locations in Mexico, Japan and India.
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