Ball Corporation facility

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Schwob Building Company, LTD was the general contractor for the project with total project costs for construction and line equipment of $60+million and a complete design and construction schedule of just eight months.  

The project had a combination of new construction and renovation of existing space to accommodate a new waste water treatment system, aluminum coil off-loading and storage and can production line.  New electrical service, switchgear and distribution and additional parking to accommodate increased employee head count were also included.

The construction was a combination of pre-engineered metal building (PEMB) and structural steel buildings with insulated metal panels.   Pier and grade beam foundations with polished concrete slabs, elevated structural mezzanines and heavy equipment foundations were also utilized.

The challenges of this project were typical to any major manufacturing expansion or retrofit. Achieving the construction goals and schedule while minimally impacting the on-going operations were a necessity.

The manufacturing environment was so regimented and stream lined that the smallest issues can have major impacts whether it is dust containment, utility service interruptions, traffic patterns, etc.  They all affect the customers’ ability to generate income and had to be well planned and executed.  

  The uniqueness of this project lies in the fact that such a short timeframe was needed.  The eight-month total schedule included the planning, pricing, permitting and execution the project.

Everyone involved in the project from the design team, construction team and particularly Ball’s onsite management team pulled together on planning and working through issues.

With the facility operating at 100% of its typical volume over $10 million in construction and installations were put in place per month which was extraordinary.

When asked about the positive aspects of working with this particular design, construction and owner team Andy Erickson of Schwob had this to say. 

“Everyone involved was very responsive and collaborative which is the only reason achieving Ball Corporation’s schedule was possible,” said Erickson.  “From the very beginning, we all knew this was not going to be a 9 to 5 project and without that work ethic and effort, we would still be in the planning stages and Ball would not be making cans.”

Project manager: Harold Bonin
Project superintendent: Paulo DeAssuncao
Architect for the project was Paul Kastner  of 3890 Design 

Schwob Building Company, LTD was founded in 1977 by John Schwob. The company is currently owned and operated by Scott Schwob and Andrew Erickson.   The company has offices in Dallas and Kansas City, Mo. and presently has 150 employees.

Started as a pre-engineered metal building company, Schwob expanded services to include general construction during the late ‘80s. Presently the company has several divisions under Schwob Building Company, LTD.  – General Construction Services, Industrial and Energy Services, Complex Steel Structures and Fueling Systems.  –bd

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