BendPak has completed Phase 1 of a new 33-acre industrial complex in Mobile County, Alabama, naming the development the Donald R. Henthorn Industrial Complex in honor of the company’s late founder.

The first phase includes a 261,600-square-foot logistics and distribution center designed to support BendPak’s growing Southeast operations and improve product availability and fulfillment across Eastern North America.

The California-based company said the facility combines warehousing, product distribution, quality control, sales, and service operations. The company expects the centralized operation to streamline supply chain and distribution operations, with many in-stock products able to ship the same day.

“This industrial complex reflects my husband’s lifelong optimism and his faith in the power of hard work, innovation, and quality manufacturing,” said Ginger Henthorn, BendPak principal. “Our family is incredibly proud of this development. It was one of the last major projects Don worked on, and we are honored to memorialize his legacy by putting his name on it.”

Henthorn founded BendPak in 1965 and grew the company from a small machine shop into a manufacturer of vehicle lifts, automotive service equipment, and specialty consumer products. He transitioned day-to-day management to the current leadership team in 2022, but remained chairman emeritus until his death in 2024.

The facility also includes a showroom featuring equipment from BendPak’s brands. The space will be used for customer visits, product demonstrations, training, and events.

The distribution center was designed with future expansion in mind and includes material-handling systems and safety-focused layouts intended to improve operational efficiency. BendPak also equipped the warehouse with 24 Cool Boss CB20HVLS high-volume, low-speed ceiling fans. 

BendPak President and CEO Jeff Kritzer said the investment is intended to provide the infrastructure needed to support continued growth and changing customer demand.

The Alabama development is the latest in a series of facility investments by the privately held company. In recent years, BendPak has expanded its manufacturing and distribution center in Santa Paula, California, established a global headquarters in Agoura Hills, California, and expanded its operations in Alabama.

The company’s portfolio includes Ranger, Autostacker, QuickJack, Cool Boss, APEX, JackPak, MaxJax, and Ergochair.