Completion expected by July

Progress continues on the expansion at the Kolbe Windows and Doors facility in Manawa.

The Expansion project started the week of Nov. 16, one week after the Manawa Common Council approved including the property in a newly-established tax increment district.

Kolbe hired Keller Inc. as the design-build firm for the project. Keller contracted Faulks Brothers of Waupaca for the excavation and fill work.

In a six week period, over 1,300 dump truck loads of fill were delivered to prepare the new building site. The fill was needed to bring the new building to the same elevation as the existing building, and was sourced from a pit less than one mile away.

“One of Kolbe’s team members Barb Kaatz has a son that drives a truck for Faulks Brothers,” said Kolbe General Manager Mark Harger. “It was neat to see her sense of pride that her son was helping with our project.”

Harger said the mild weather in November and December helped the project stay on schedule.

“The foundation and all of the fill for the building was completed before the deep freeze and snow hit at the end of the year.”

Since that point, Keller Inc. has erected the steel for the building and is in the process of preparing for the roof and the insulation materials.

“Keller Inc. has been excellent to work with on this project,” Harger said. “They have hit all of their marks to date and we look forward to an on-time completion in July.”

The expansion will add 75,000 square feet of production, office space, and enclosed shipping bays to the existing 84,000 square foot facility.

Kolbe hired August Aerial Imagery, from Waupaca, to document the building process. Jeff Robinson, who owns this company, piloted a high quality drone to photograph and record high definition videos of the construction project.

“Jeff has been a pleasure to work with and goes the extra mile to deliver a quality product,” Harger said.