We Need More Space!

Our small city of Mission, KS, was started in 1825 as a stopping point for covered wagons on their way westward. Many campsites were established in Mission because of the abundant trees and cool streams. This crossing also followed the Santa Fe Trail between Kansas City, MO, and Olathe, KS.

Businesses were established during the 1920s and 1930s and many homes and storefronts were built.  So when Mike and I bought our small office building in the early 1970s, there were several buildings that were in disrepair and no longer used. It turned out to be fortunate, because we acquired many buildings over the years that were well built (those we refurbished) or were beyond help (those we torn down and either built new buildings on the land or left valuable green space with trees.)

“We need more space” became a frequent comment.

In 1996, we needed a manufacturing facility for our SP 200 robots. Enter the “transmission shop” right across from our office. Not attractive, but a functional building that we refurbished as our first Technical Center.

We went from a gutted building to a usable space for manufacturing and offices. The joke was that the robots in process were lined up so tightly in the building that you could hardly move in there!

Manufacturing Manager, Bill Thomas, did a great job of turning out hundreds of robots in that small space.

This building served us well until we completed an all-new Technical Center in 1998.

(1) Atco Transmission Shop across from ScriptPro office. (2) Converting the transmission shop into a Tech Center, 1996. (3) Refurbished manufacturing office space, 1996. (4) Manufacturing Manager, Bill Thomas, 1997

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