Ditch Witch, a global leader in underground construction equipment, broke ground on a new 170,000 square-foot paint facility at its factory in Perry, Oklahoma, marking a significant milestone in the company’s 75-year history. Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt joined company leadership and nearly 1,000 employees for the ceremony, which was also a stop on The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) Express Tour showcasing manufacturing across the United States. For construction professionals tracking industrial development, this project offers valuable lessons in large-scale facility expansion, on-site manufacturing capability investment, and the economic impact of construction manufacturing in smaller communities. Those attending industry events this year might note parallels with what is new in equipment and technology showcased at the What to See At Conexpo Con Agg 2026 event, where many manufacturers like Ditch Witch display their latest innovations.
Breaking Ground on a Major Manufacturing Investment
The groundbreaking ceremony for Ditch Witch’s new paint facility represents more than just a construction project. It signals a long-term commitment to vertical integration and manufacturing self-sufficiency in the underground construction equipment sector. The event drew Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt, company executives, and a crowd of nearly 1,000 employees who gathered to mark the occasion.
Project Scale and Timeline
The new paint facility is designed as a 170,000 square-foot addition to the existing Ditch Witch manufacturing campus in Perry. Key project details include:
- Size: 170,000 square feet of dedicated paint processing space
- Location: Existing Ditch Witch factory complex in Perry, Oklahoma
- Expected completion: Early 2027
- New jobs: Up to 100 new positions in the Perry area
- Purpose: On-site paint line for Ditch Witch underground construction equipment
This timeline means the facility will take roughly two to three years from groundbreaking to full operation, a typical duration for industrial paint facilities that require specialized ventilation, curing systems, and environmental compliance infrastructure.
The Role of the AEM Express Tour
The groundbreaking coincided with the AEM Express Tour, which highlights manufacturing excellence across the United States. This tour visits companies that exemplify innovation, workforce development, and community impact. Ditch Witch’s selection as a tour stop underscores the company’s standing as both a manufacturing leader in the underground construction space and a pillar of the Perry community. For builders involved in industrial projects, understanding the approval and public visibility process for major manufacturing expansions can be informed by studying how companies stage such ceremonial groundbreakings to maximize community and political engagement.
The Business Case for On-Site Paint Facilities
Ditch Witch’s decision to build a dedicated on-site paint line facility is rooted in operational strategy. Equipment manufacturers face distinct challenges when outsourcing paint and finishing work. Bringing this capability in-house offers several advantages that directly impact production quality, cost control, and delivery timelines.
Operational Efficiency Gains
Kevin Smith, vice president of Ditch Witch, framed the investment around expanding manufacturing capacity and reinforcing the company’s commitment to customers worldwide. An on-site paint facility eliminates the logistical complexity of transporting partially assembled equipment to third-party painting facilities. This consolidation reduces transportation costs, shortens production cycles, and minimizes the risk of damage during transit.
The efficiency benefits break down into several measurable areas:
- Reduced lead times: Equipment moves directly from assembly to paint without off-site scheduling delays
- Quality control: In-house teams can maintain consistent finish standards and rapidly address defects
- Inventory optimization: Less work-in-progress inventory sitting in transit or at third-party facilities
- Customization capability: On-site lines can more easily accommodate custom color and finish requests
Vertical Integration Strategy
The paint facility expansion is part of a broader vertical integration strategy at Ditch Witch. By controlling the paint and finishing stage of production, the company reduces its reliance on external suppliers and insulates itself from market fluctuations in commercial painting services. This approach mirrors trends seen across heavy equipment manufacturing, where leading firms increasingly bring critical production processes in-house. For construction firms engaged in industrial facility work, the Factory Buildings Regulations governing such expansions require careful navigation of zoning, environmental, and safety codes.
| Factor | Outsourced Paint | On-Site Paint Facility |
|---|---|---|
| Transportation cost | High (equipment moves off-site) | Low (equipment stays on campus) |
| Lead time per unit | 3-7 days average | 1-2 days average |
| Quality consistency | Variable by vendor | Controlled in-house |
| Custom color capability | Limited by vendor schedule | Flexible scheduling |
| Weather dependency | High (outdoor transport) | Low (indoor controlled) |
Construction Considerations for Industrial Paint Lines
Building a paint facility for heavy equipment manufacturing presents unique construction challenges that differ from standard industrial buildings. Paint lines require specialized environmental controls, fire suppression systems, and ventilation infrastructure that must comply with stringent safety and environmental regulations.
Structural and Environmental Requirements
A 170,000 square-foot paint facility involves several critical construction elements:
- HVAC and ventilation: Paint booths require precision airflow systems to maintain air quality and remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
- Fire protection: Paint facilities fall under special hazard classifications requiring enhanced sprinkler systems, fire-rated separations, and explosion-proof electrical components
- Flooring: Epoxy and chemical-resistant flooring systems are essential for withstanding paint overspray, solvents, and cleaning chemicals
- Curing ovens: The facility will include industrial curing ovens that require significant structural reinforcement and thermal insulation
- Waste management: Paint booths generate hazardous waste requiring containment systems and permitted disposal pathways
Construction teams working on such facilities must coordinate multiple specialized subcontractors including mechanical engineers for airflow design, fire protection engineers for code compliance, and environmental consultants for permitting. The Slab On Ground Design for a paint facility must account for heavy equipment loads and chemical-resistant surface treatments, making foundation engineering a critical early-phase consideration.
Site Planning and Layout
The Perry facility addition must integrate seamlessly with the existing manufacturing campus. Site planning involves material flow considerations that connect the paint facility to adjacent assembly and storage buildings. Efficient layout design ensures that equipment moves through the paint process without backtracking or creating bottlenecks in the main production line.
Key layout factors include:
- Proximity to the main assembly line exit point
- Adequate buffer space for pre-paint preparation and post-paint inspection
- Separate access for raw material delivery (paint, solvents, abrasives)
- Clear separation between clean paint areas and preparation/grinding areas to prevent dust contamination
- Integration with existing utility infrastructure (compressed air, electrical, gas for curing ovens)
Proper Setting Out Building Plan On Ground is particularly important when expanding an active manufacturing campus, as construction must occur without disrupting ongoing production operations.
Workforce and Economic Ripple Effects of Facility Expansion
Beyond the construction and operational details, the Ditch Witch paint facility expansion carries significant implications for the local workforce and economy in Perry, Oklahoma. The project is expected to create up to 100 new jobs, adding to the company’s existing workforce of more than 1,700 employees in the community.
Community Impact and Company Legacy
Ditch Witch has been the largest employer in Perry since its first production trencher rolled off the assembly line in 1949. The company’s roots trace back even further to 1902, when Carl Malzhan opened a blacksmith shop in the same community. This deep history means every major facility investment has outsized impact on the local economy.
The economic ripple effects of a 170,000 square-foot industrial expansion include:
- Construction phase employment: Hundreds of construction workers employed during the build-out period
- Permanent skilled positions: Paint line operators, maintenance technicians, quality inspectors, and environmental compliance staff
- Supply chain strengthening: Local suppliers of industrial materials, safety equipment, and maintenance services benefit from increased demand
- Housing and services: Population growth from new workers supports local housing markets, retail, and services in the Perry area
Workforce Development and Training
Industrial paint facilities require specialized skills that are not always readily available in local labor markets. Ditch Witch will need to invest in training programs for paint application techniques, equipment operation, quality control procedures, and environmental compliance. These training investments benefit the broader construction manufacturing ecosystem by building a more skilled workforce in Oklahoma.
The company’s nearly 1,000 employees who attended the groundbreaking ceremony represent a workforce deeply invested in the company’s future. Smith’s remarks at the ceremony highlighted the direct connection between the work done on the factory floor and the positive impact on people’s daily lives, from the infrastructure that powers cell phones to the utility lines that bring electricity into homes. This sense of purpose is a powerful tool for employee retention and recruitment in an industry facing skilled labor shortages.
Lessons for Construction Professionals
The Ditch Witch paint facility expansion offers several takeaways for construction professionals involved in industrial development:
- Manufacturing expansions of this scale require 24-36 month planning and execution timelines from groundbreaking to commissioning
- Specialized industrial facilities like paint lines demand cross-disciplinary coordination between structural, mechanical, fire protection, and environmental engineers
- Community and political engagement are essential components of successful industrial expansion, as demonstrated by the gubernatorial participation in the groundbreaking
- On-site production capabilities create measurable competitive advantages in lead time reduction, quality control, and supply chain resilience
- Workforce development must be planned in parallel with facility construction to ensure skilled operators are available when the facility becomes operational in early 2027
As Ditch Witch moves forward with construction of its new paint facility, the project stands as a model for how established manufacturers can invest in their production infrastructure while strengthening ties to their communities. For builders, contractors, and construction managers, the project offers real-world insight into the complexities and opportunities of large-scale industrial facility expansion in the heartland of American manufacturing.