M.D. Manufacturing set to build new factory in Bakersfield

M.D. Manufacturing, Inc. has announced the construction plans of a new factory in Bakersfield, CA. The 14-acre site in the Spectrum North Business Park at 7th Standard and Hwy. 99 will contain a new state-of-the-art warehouse and their corporate offices. M.D.’s current facility will be dwarfed by a building over twice the size. M.S. Walker has been chosen as the general contractor.

“This is going to be a beautiful addition to the area,” said Mandy Freeland, architectural job captain for M.S. Walker. “The accents on the glass and concrete tilt-up two-story entry will exude the quality that M.D. puts into the products it manufacturers.”

Project Superintendent John Stacy stated that the entire project will take less than eight months to complete.

M.D. Manufacturing is a leading force in the central vacuum market, shipping their units to 50 countries across the globe. Their list of clients include Bill Gates, George Bush, princes, heads of state, famous sports stars, media stars, and others who desire to efficiently clean their homes. The company was founded by Charles Emdy in 1961 and moved to Bakersfield in 1988 under the leadership of Wayne Emdy. Wayne’s untimely death in 1992 has left the business in the operating hands of Grant Olewiler who has expanded it to almost 10 times it size with continued growth on the horizon.

“M.D. has historically defied the typical building trends,” stated Olewiler, “because we have focused on the high-end of the market.”

And their product does have some very unique features. Their latest central vacuum power units can e-mail you when they are full or need any other service attention. They even automatically shut off when the telephone rings.

Olewiler stated, “Even the average homeowner insists on having a clean home and the central vacuum is becoming more of an affordable necessity. Rather than purchasing a new upright for a few hundred dollars every few years, a central vacuum retains its value without falling apart within a few years.”

Their dealers specialize in installing the system into existing homes with minimal disruption, another fact that Olewiler points out as he illustrates the company’s growth curve.

In building their new facility M.D. also has committed a tremendous amount of resources to keep manufacturing jobs in the USA. While most appliance manufacturers are rushing overseas for cheaper goods, M.D. is investing in new plant equipment to streamline their manufacturing process.

“We intend to create another 20-30 jobs in the next few years,” stated Olewiler, “including manufacturing positions, sales positions, accounting positions, and other white-collar jobs.”

Brian Graves, M.D.’s operations manager and internal project coordinator, has had quite a bit of experience designing efficiency into buildings of this nature. He intends to make this factory as efficient as possible using a combination of natural lighting and automation features.

“The only way to compete in this global economy is to build efficiencies that far out-perform any other option,” stated Graves.

The M.D. factory will be the anchor and first phase of the Emdy Business Park, a 14-acre testament to Wayne Emdy and his family that visioned the creation of a product that would affect the lives of so many people. M.D. would like to thank all the members of VDTA who have supported them over the past 26 years of involvement in the organization; without them, M.D. would still be in a small operation. For additional information, visit www.builtinvacuum.com, or call 1-800-525-2055.

Reprinted from Central Vac Professional, March 2008