Parker Hannifin locates to Antioch Corporate Center

ANTIOCH -- Parker Hannifin, an international company that manufactures motion and control technologies and systems, will be the first business to locate in Antioch Corporate Center.

Industrial Developments International is the developer of the 248-acre Antioch Corporate Center on the former Pedersen Farm on Route 173, east of Route 45.

It's a coup for the village, says Community Development Director Dustin Nilsen.

"I very much hope that this company moving here sends a strong signal that will put this park on the map," Nilsen said. "This sets a very good and very high standard for future development in this park and it is exactly the type of development our community needs."

He said locating the company's North American Technological Center in Antioch will provide long-term jobs, construction dollars and a prestigious company with a worldwide presence that will be a community partner. "I can't say enough about it."

The goal is to start construction in 2010 and move in within two years or less, said Nilsen.

With annual sales exceeding $10 billion, Parker Hannifin is a diversified manufacturer of motion and control technologies and systems, designing products for a wide variety of mobile, industrial and aerospace markets. The company's products are vital to virtually everything that moves or requires control, said Nilsen, including the manufacture and processing of raw materials, durable goods, infrastructure development and all forms of transport.

Headquartered in Cleveland, Parker Hannifin has locations in Asia, South America and Europe.

The 80,000-square-foot Antioch Tech Center on 14 acres will be used for training other engineers and the company's sales department will be headquartered here. Clients will be brought to Antioch to be shown demos of their projects.

"It will be a showcase lab and proving grounds so they can bring a CEO or executive from a Fortune 500 company here and be comfortable doing that. It looks to be a showcase for Parker Hannifin that they may use when they expand further in Europe and Asia," said Nilsen.

Nilsen said the company did a detailed search within a 60-mile radius from O'Hare International Airport to find a location for its Chicago area center. The result was Antioch Corporate Center finished at the top of the list of contenders.

"We see it as a very much viable, good job producing business that will make this corporate center a reality. It's a great fit for this park."

The design of the park includes 45 acres of open space and detention areas and includes a bike and pedestrian path along Route 173 and through the development, designed to link with existing and future Lake County Forest Preserve District properties. "This was not designed to be wall-to-wall buildings and businesses," said Nilsen.

Sewer and water have been extended to the property, considerable landscaping is complete and Route 173 improvements, including a traffic signal at the park's entrance, will be completed next year.