Typically, not much thought goes into the process of connecting a company’s factory floor to the executive and administrative offices.
But, Kinze is not your typical thinker.
When we made the decision to build our new state-of-the-art office building in 2010, “connectivity” was one of the first things on our minds and priority list.
We started thinking about safer, more efficient ways to connect and transport employees from building to building; hoping to minimize risk by reducing traffic congestion and the potential for accidents. (If you’ve ever traveled throughout the Kinze complex, and seen the steady flow of vehicles and material, you can certainly understand why we are strongly focused on employee welfare. These people are truly the heart and soul of this company!)
The solution: It was right there under our feet.
Today, spacious underground tunnels connect our new office building to both the Kinze Innovation Center (KIC) and our main factory floor. In fact, it worked so well, we later installed another tunnel (2012) to facilitate the flow of factory workers to and from our outside parking facility. And now, as an added benefit, we have a very secure storm shelter for our entire workforce if a tornado or severe storm would ever hit Kinze.
How was it built? It’s a totally enclosed system of conduit work, designed and engineered to make sure the tunnels stayed dry, lighted, wired and well ventilated. And it’s built to last! The giant culverts consist of the same material used by golf courses to route golfers under roads or other finished surfaces; in certain areas, the tunnels run as much as 35 feet below ground. And they’re large enough to accommodate underground parking for golf carts and plenty of other factory transportation devices.
Bottom line? Less traffic. Less congestion. Less risk. Less exposure to the elements. And greater security for our employees.
Want to see it? Below you’ll see a short iPhone video of the tunnel from the seat of a golf cart. Better yet, you can experience it first hand as part of your tour when you visit the KIC Innovation Center and sign up* for the factory tour!
To combine your visit with a tour of the Factory*, please call Kinze at (319) 668-1300 and ask for Factory Tours. Tours are held Monday – Thursday by appointment only. Tour reservations must be made a minimum of 48 hours in advance. Tours are booked on a first-come, first-served basis and fill up quickly. The factory tour lasts approximately 1.5 hours.
*Must be 14 years of age or older to tour the Factory (no exceptions).