Owner/president Gary Fairchild (center) with Burnsville Mayor Elizabeth Kautz at ribbon cutting

Fairchild Equipment Inc invested about USD5.7 million in establishing its fifth location and second in the Twin Cities region of Minnesota.

During the last quarter of 2012, the firm acquired a home-improvement centre that retailer Menard Inc had vacated in 2004 in a Burnsville industrial park.

Fairchild Equipment embarked on a major reconstruction of the 100,000 sqft. (9.290 sqm) building on 11 acres and developed an equipment showroom, parts counter, service counter, state-of-the-art shop, warehouse and training centre.

The location employs eight persons and began operations in June after a ribbon-cutting ceremony involving owner/president Gary Fairchild, Burnsville Mayor Elizabeth Kautz, other local officials and representatives of the Burnsville Chamber of Commerce.

Burnsville is on the south side of the Minneapolis-St Paul metropolitan area. The new location complements the Fairchild Equipment site in Ham Lake on the north side of the area. The Ham Lake facility was established in 2000 and was known then as a Yale Materials Handling dealership.

The Burnsville location strengthens the firm's service in both its industrial truck and construction equipment segments, Fairchild says.

Green Bay-based Fairchild Equipment began in 1985 with eight employees and now has about 160 on staff. In addition to Green Bay, Burnsville and Ham Lake, the firm has locations in Stevens Point and Marinette, Wisconsin. The service area includes Wisconsin, Michigan's Upper Peninsula and Minnesota.

Fairchild Equipment represents Yale forklift trucks, JCB construction equipment and, in the Wisconsin area, Mahindra tractors. Yale has recognised the firm as a dealer of excellence 18 times.