Each year, for the past 55, American Drycleaner has recognized the top new plants through its Annual Plant Design Awards. I'm proud to announce that the Grand Prize Winner this year is Peerless Cleaners, Fort Wayne, Ind. It invested more than $1 million to transform a former tire distribution center into an L-shaped dynamo that keeps work flowing for customers of four different company banners. Previously, Peerless Cleaners-which just celebrated 100 years in business-occupied five floors of a circa 1900s building in downtown Fort Wayne. It required moving product up and down famps using a forklift or a trailer pulled by a golf cart; delivery trucks had to be loaded outside. Owner Steve Grashoff always pushed for efficiency, but he recognized that things had to change. His background in grocery store development proved helpful in visualizing the workflow possibilities the distribution center offered and bringing them into reality.
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