March 14, 2023
Meridian, Idaho-based Western States Cat has expanded its multi-location, multi-state footprint with the opening of a new branch in Liberty Lake, Wash.
The new location, which opened for business on Nov. 14, 2022, offers a full-service equipment rental facility, providing industry-leading Caterpillar equipment as well as a full line of allied construction equipment.
“The Spokane area has been experiencing rapid growth in recent years and is forecast to remain on a growth trajectory for the foreseeable future,” says Kelly Olson, president, Western States Equipment Company. “Our team has done an excellent job helping our customers grow during this time; however, we had outgrown our previous location in Spokane. This new facility has doubled the size of our Cat Rental Store and was specifically built to increase our capacity and help us be more efficient. This will allow us to serve existing and new customers in this rapidly growing region with a first-class customer experience for the next 25 to 30 years.”
The number of Western States Cat’s The Cat Rental Store locations total 13, with the new Liberty Lake facility replacing the company’s previous presence in the Spokane, Wash., area. The company’s Butte, Mont., Fruitland, Idaho and Jackson, Wyo., locations are all stand-alone Cat Rental Stores serving their specific territories. Its other Cat Rental Stores, including the Liberty Lake facility, are part of Western States Cat campuses that provide sales, parts, service, rental, truck service, power systems, hose building, hydraulic/machining service, rebuilds, technology solutions and more. There are a total of 17 Western States Cat locations.
With a facility encompassing approximately 9,700 sq. ft. of interior space, including nine 60-ft. pull-through service bays, offices and retail space, and a staffing capacity of approximately 30 employees, the new Liberty Lake site sits on 29.85 acres with a total of 117,000 sq. ft. It has 31 total bays (16 service shop, nine Cat Rental Store, two hydraulic shop and four dock) and a staffing capacity of 125.
The Liberty Lake Cat Rental Store was designed for increased capacity and efficiency to maximize operational throughput and grow with the market. The larger facility footprint and nine 60-ft. pull-through bays contribute to those gains. The facility also features awnings to keep equipment protected from the elements, which increases safety and optimizes availability to customers, the company says.
The new facility is now conveniently located directly off Interstate 90, allowing customers, suppliers and other partners to easily access the store without having to negotiate high-traffic areas and city streets with long, heavy loads. Similarly, it allows The Cat Rental Store to deliver equipment to customers much more safely and efficiently.
Western States Cat’s Railroad Solutions business operates out of Liberty Lake as well, offering rental and sales of high-rail equipment and other products and services to anywhere in the U.S. The Liberty Lake yard includes a dedicated length of railroad track, which enables the company to design, test and qualify products and solutions for the railway industry.
The company also says that another benefit of vacating its former Spokane facility is that it created capacity for its Spokane-based Technician Academy. This academy is a skills-intensive program designed for recent high school graduates to gain the education and skill set to become an apprentice technician for rental and service operations in less than a year of study.
The Liberty Lake location has some unique points of interest too. The American flag displayed in front of the facility, standing 135 ft. tall and measuring 40-ft.-by-80-ft., is tied for the largest flag in the state of Washington.
The facility also was designed with sensible sustainability solutions in mind, including light sensors that detect natural light so that artificial light may be used only as needed, cross-laminate timber for reduction of waste and environmental impact, and water bottle filling stations throughout the facility to discourage use of one-time-use plastics.
