The Daily Herald from Chicago, Illinois • Page 91

Industrial Park Is 'Miniature Detroit' Centex Industrial Park cannot be called "Little Detroit" but it is one of the largest suppliers of products for the automotive industry and motorists in the Chicago area. "I don't know of any other section," explained Louis S. Kahnweiler of Bennett and Kahnweiler, exclusive agent for the park, "where there is gathered in one spot such a large complex of firms serving car makers." Kahnweiler pointed out that the firms range from Echlin Manufacturing United Parts Division, which makes ignition systems, a and speedometer cables and brake fluids to The Greenfield Company which manufactures safety seat belts. "INCLUDED in the Centex complex of automotive suppliers arc S. K.

Wellman Co. and Goodyear Tire and Rubber Kahnweiler went on. "Wellman Is a prominent manufacturer of CENTEX INDUSTRIAL PARK includes a number of fir ITS which supply the automotive Industry, including Sterling Automotive 2140 Lunt, Elk Grove Village. Pictured abovt is Odis Freeman working on a punch press with the rolling mill operation in the foreground. metal brake and clutch plates.

Goodyear, of course, needs no introduction as one of the largest tire manufacturers in the country." According to Kahnweiler, the complex will become larger in the near future. For instance, Blackstone Manufacturing Company, one of the nation's foremost manufacturers of shock absorbers and automotive parts, will join the complex with the first unit of what ultimately will be 160,000 square feet of plant and office space. ANOTHER FIRM planning to become a member of the complex Standard Unit Parts which is a nationwide distributor of replacement automotive parts. "Already old-timers in the. Park," Kahnweiler pointed out, 1 "are Sachs Automotive Products rebuilder of transmissions and Sterling Automotive Manufacturing Co.

"In addition, Borg-Warner's Morse Chain Division has a facility for distribution and man- ransmission products used in rucks and other heavy-duty vehicles." Kahnweiler added that heavy equipment also was represented the Euclid Division of Gener- il Motors Corporation, manufac- urer of earthmoving equipment; lowell Tractor and Equipment distributors of earthmov- ng and other heavy-duty equipment; and Raco Industrial Cor- wration, rebuilder of heavy- duty automotive equipment. "But the automotive complex does not stop there," he stressed. "Penray Company manu- actures the chemical specialties every motorist needs to keep his car clean and engine in perfect working order. And for those who want to do something about the scratches that somehow cannot be avoided, there is Dupli-Color Products the country's leading producer ol automotive touch-up paint." (SSufacture of mechanical power Centex Construction Co. Industrial Park Developers Nation 9 Top Building Firm SHOWS the location of Elk Grove Villages Centex Industrial Park in relation to the state tollway system and O'Hare International Airport.

This and the availability of rail transport on the Chicago North Western and Milwaukee Road influenced situating the park in its present location. (SS Eye-Pleasing Setting For Industrial Park The harmonious meeting of industrial and residential areas has, been one of the attractions of Klk Grove Village The Centex Industrial Park, carefully planned and landscaped, is as eye-pleasing as the rest of the community. Charles Klehm and Son Nursery of Arlington Heights has Happy 5th Anniversary CENTEX PARK from BUTZ ELECTRIC CO. 3063 Sheridan Road Zion, Illinois TR 2-2542 Tom Lively established Centex Construction Company in the post-war years on the theory a new kind of construction organization was needed to help house home-hungry Americans and construct facilities for the nation's expanding industry. The organization had to be geared for large-scale developments, able to adapt its basic skills to any type of construction and ready to move any' where quickly with ftancial resources on a scale unthought of before in the building industry.

THESE RESOURCES a from the Murchison interests which were enthusiastic over the contribution a truly nationwide construction company could make toward the country's growth. Starting in its home city of Dallas, the firm rapidly expanded to launch construction projects in California, Illinois, Idaho, Oklahoma, Indiana, Arkansas, Kansas, Louisiana, Florida, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. By 1960 Centex had startec some 25,000 units having a total evaluation in excess of $400 million. In the mid-50's Centex was working in the Chicago area to establish new and higher standards for effective utilization oi real estate by developing raw land into a complete residential and industrial community. SURVEYS, STUDIES and personal observation had convinced the firm that the northwest suburbs of Chicago near O'Hare International Airport was the done the landscaping for many of the plants, including Sachs Automotive, Perfecto Engineering, Treewax, Field Paper Box, and Portage Tool.

IN ADDITION to the outside landscaping, the interiors ol many of the plants are decorated with artificial and live greenhouse plants. The nursery employs several landscape designers specifically for small or large landscaping jobs in the industrial and home residential field, according to owner Carl Klehm. And, to meet the increasing demand for interior decoration, the nursery has enlarged its greenhouses and gift shop. Klehm's provides both the plants and the service of arranging plants in planters. "Centex should be commended for their interest in beautifying the industrial area, Klehm commented.

"The employees can't help but take pride in in such attractive plants. Pride in working conditions encourages better work and improves employee relations," he said. "I THINK Centex has shown the Midwest what industry can do to integrate their plants with the residential area. Because of proper landscaping, it is no longer objectionable to have manufacturing areas adjacent to residential areas. In fact, they have become a source of community pride," said Klehm.

The Elk Grove Village and a Boards have engag Klehm's to plan and plant park and street shrubbery, also. Klehm said he considered it "a pleasure and challenge" to be working with Centex in developing the community. roper location for such an un iertaking. Besides being close to the airport, the location was lear a superhighway network that connected Chicago with the flterstate highway system, the Chicago loop and the Lake Michigan terminus of the St Lawrence Seaway. In the middle of a growing suburban area, there was a working force calculated to reach 3 million 1975.

Centex opened its first mode home in Elk Grove Village in 1956. Now incorporated by the State of Illinois, Elk Grove Vil lage has nearly 14,000 residents and is still growing according to a master plan designed tc avert deterioration of property values and weakening of the community's economic base. In order to provide a stront economic base, Centex plannec an industrial park to balance the residential community Work on Centex Industrial Park began in 1957. Centex, togethe with its exclusive representa tive, Bennett and Kahnweiler, in corporated into Centex Indus trial Park the best features other industrial i i throughout the United States anc Canada. MARSHALL Bennett and THE MORSE CHAIN Division of Borg-Warner Corporation handles its Midwest business from this building in Centex Industrial Park.

The manufacturer of heavy-duty power drive equipment is one of a sizable group of firms producing products for the automotive industry. (SS Louis Kahnweiler made the first sale in Centex Industrial Park in October, 1957. Within a year, 14 firms occupied sites in the Park. By September, 1959, the number climbed to 35 and reached 59 a year later. Three and a half years from its inception, 72 firms were located in Centex Industrial Park.

By the spring of 1962, more than 100 firms either purchased land or had buildings constructed in the Park. May of 1962 saw the acquisition of a 740-acre site from General Electric Company which more than doubled Centex Industrial Park and made it the foremost installation of its kind in the nation. Within 10 years more than 300 industries are expected to located in the Park. Accompanied by an anticipated growth in the residential section that will swell its population to an estimated 60,000, Elk Grove Village will be a dynamic example of one of the finest, well balanced industrial, commercial and residential communities anywhere in the world. Industrial Finishes for both New and Maintenance Call or write for color brochure featuring colors for factories, schools, motels, stores, specifying your choice.

Call or coma VV1 in for expert consultation on your decorating and maintenance I. problems. SERVING THE COMMUNITY FOR 37 YEARS CL 3-5338 214 N. DMtm Arlington Heights COLOR CONSULTANTS GOOD LANDSCAPING is GOOD BUSINESS LET KLEHM'S PLAN LANDSCAPING Because of the growing interest in landscape design by progressive businesses and institutions, we have added to our staff a graduate architect who will consult with you, draw perspectives and scale layouts of proposed plantings, and prepare estimates of cost. He can help yon visualize the results of intelligent landscaping geared to the practical needs of your customers, employes, and the community.

GOOD BUSINESS A prestige builder for every business A proven aid to better public relations A real estate value builder The mark of the progressive firm ALGONQUIN AND ARLINGTON HEIGHTS RO. Daily 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Saturday 'til 6 p.m., Sunday 'til 5 p.m. Phone HE 7-2IM.