Midlands Mechanical Inc.

Douglas Munter founded Midlands Mechanical Inc. (MMI) on April 10,1980 with the aim to offer skilled craftsmen and top construction management throughout the Midwest. The company, with three offices in Nebraska and one in Denver, Colo., has become a mechanical contractor leader in plumbing, HVAC and process piping.

Munter had previously worked for union and non-union contractors in the field. When he founded the company, he made a hybrid of this to provide services in the Midwest region. Starting with just a small group of eight employees, the company now has over 125 employees and is headed by Bill Kilmer, CEO of MMI. Kilmer became interested in the field working one summer for his brother who was a plumber. He joined MMI in 1984 after working 15 years for another employer.

“We are ahead of all of our competitors regarding the latest technology for our industry,” says Kilmer. MMI has experience working with surveying equipment technology like Robotic Total Station and other technologies such as orbital welding and CAD.

In addition to MMI’s dedication to the latest technology, the company also is actively involved in projects awarded. The company’s staff performs about 60 percent of the $30 million work volume, using subcontractors for other aspects. Kilmer reiterates: “When “we” say we’ll do it, we get it done on time. Satisfaction is our number one priority.”

Despite all the changes in technology and increased demand, Kilmer points out, “Things that have remained constant is our dedication to providing a quality project on time and within budget.”

Public Sector Work

MMI has contracted with many general contractors on large, public sector projects. One recent project is the expansion to Kearney, Neb., Good Samaritan Hospital. MMI was required to use all its services for this $10 million job.

The company came in to demolish and install a new system from the existing Central Utilities Plant on site without interrupting on-going hospital services. MMI modeled all components and ran the coordination for the job, working with all trades to ensure all systems had space.

All told, the company ran over 98,000 feet of pipe and made roughly 400 medical gas service connections. Responsibilities for this project included 3D model and coordination, medical gas piping and certification, three types of water piping, roof drain piping, chemical treatment, insulation, waste and vent piping, as well as steam and condensate piping. MMI also worked on air distribution, temperature controls, underground utilities and al mechanical equipment settings.

Working in the medical and research field is a popular sector for MMI. The company is currently involved in the construction of Valent BioSciences Corporation’s (VBC) new 130,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in Osage, Iowa. VBC is a global leader in the development and commercialization of biorational products used in agriculture, public health and forestry. The plant is expected to be complete in the spring of 2014.

MMI continues to be offered large contracts because of its willingness to tackle difficult jobs. One project Kilmer remembers is the Becton-Dickerson Medical Systems pharmaceutical building in Columbus. “It was the biggest job we ever did at the time,” he says of the $8.5 million project. “We put in 90,000 man hours over eight months.”

Randall Cook, facility engineering coordinator of Becton-Dickerson Medical Systems, applauds MMI for their work. “The coordination and dedication allowed us to accelerate the completion of our project and finish on our original timeline after losing four months to extreme weather conditions,” he says.

Balancing Demand

MMI focuses its work on a very small customer base. The clients the company works for have demanding schedules and expect quality work. The majority of MMI’s projects come from repeat business, which Kilmer feels reflects that customers are pleased with the company’s performance.

Kilmer anticipates the company will continue to thrive on the customer base MMI currently has. However, he and the management team continually look for ways to better business. Searching and keeping up to date on the latest technology is a huge challenge. “We have to keep our technological edge to keep ahead of our competitors,” he says.

The company also has to stay focused on education for employees. Kilmer reports MMI is working on trade, management and leadership education for its employees. Having educated employees helps maintain the companies competitive edge.

With education and the latest technology, MMI will continually be able to offer their clients the best work. After 30 years of strong business, Midlands Mechanical Inc. is poised for a successful future.

For more information about Midlands Mechanical Inc., please visit: www.midmechin.com.