Heavy Equipment Manufacturing
Aerospace and other transportation manufacturing is the largest and fastest growing manufacturing sector in Kansas (National Association of Manufacturers, 2019). These industries are drawn to the region by the well-developed manufacturing supply chain, skilled workforce, competitive cost of doing business, and a location that makes it easy to move products anywhere in the world. Sunflower Electric Power Corporation—which provides plentiful, reliable energy to its member utilities—can help you explore everything Kansas has to offer your heavy equipment manufacturing business.
Industry Leaders in Kansas
Global leaders in heavy equipment manufacturing have a major presence in Kansas.
 | Hawker Beechcraft | 2000 Employees |
|---|---|---|
 | AGCO Corp. | 1590 Employees |
 | Great Plains Manufacturing | 1500 Employees |
 | Harper Industries | 150 Employees |
 | Maico Industries | 52 Employees |
Access to a highly skilled workforce
North Central Kansas Technical College (NCK Tech)
Two-year institution offering certifications and associates degrees most prominently in mechanics, distribution, automotive, welding, healthcare and construction trades. Ranked 7th in the nation among technical and community colleges by the Chronicle of High Education. NCK Tech has campuses in Beloit and Hays.
Northwest Kansas Technical College
Located in Goodland, Northwest Kansas Technical College offers training in automotive technology and welding and is the home of the Kansas Institute of Diesel Technology. Northwest Tech offers a program to upskill graduates to specific employer requirements without charge.
Salina Tech
Two-year institution offering programs in automotive, machine tools, welding, electrical, construction, and commercial truck driving. Salina Tech also offers employability certifications as part of an adult workforce re-entry program.
Kansas State Polytechnic
Based in Salina, Kansas State Polytechnic is a branch campus of Kansas State University and home of the University's College of Technology and Aviation. The school offers specialized training in aviation and engineering.
Access to Markets
- Within 500 miles from the center of the Sunflower Region, companies are able to reach more than 36 million people. This includes the large metro areas of:
- Dallas, TX
- Kansas City, MO
- Denver, CO
- Wichita, KS
- Albuquerque, NM
- Omaha, NE
- Oklahoma City, OK
Competitive Labor Costs
Hourly wages for many occupations in demand by manufacturers are at or below average for the region and the nation.
| Occupation | SW KS | NW KS | KS | CO | NE | US |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First-Line Supervisors of Production and Operating Wages | $27.96 | $20,52 | $26.84 | $29.65 | $26.95 | $27.78 |
| Team Assemblers | $12.26 | $10.44 | $16.22 | $14.47 | $15.42 | $14.45 |
| Assemblers and Fabricators, All Other | $13.27 | - | $15.01 | $14.88 | $13.15 | $13.73 |
| Machinists | $16.36 | $17.70 | $18.87 | $21.55 | $18.92 | $20.05 |
| Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | $15.75 | $17.71 | $18.52 | $20.03 | $18.12 | $18.94 |
| Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | $18.45 | $19.39 | $19.41 | $21.91 | $18.90 | $19.87 |
| Conveyor Operators and Tenders | $14.15 | $14.54 | $14.93 | $14.48 | $14.21 | $15.10 |
| Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | $13.89 | $16.36 | $16.44 | $16.43 | $15.07 | $15.61 |
| Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | $13.56 | $12.41 | $13.41 | $13.21 | $13.37 | $12.49 |
| Machine Feeders and Offbearers | $14.44 | - | $12.85 | $14.08 | $16.67 | $13.66 |
| Packers and Packagers, Hand | $8.72 | - | $10.22 | $10.10 | $10.80 | $10.64 |
(Source: EMSI, 2018)