Glen Strandberg
Staff Writer

Ziegler, the Caterpillar® equipment and power systems dealership in Minnesota and western, central and northeastern Iowa, is pleased to announce the opening of their newest full-service facility.

Located on an 80-acre site on West Freeway Drive in Columbus, MN, it is accessed via the Lake Drive/State Hwy. 97 exit off I-35.

Also on April 9, the City of Columbus took delivery of the facility’s very first equipment sale, a Caterpillar 143H Motor Grader. A group from Columbus, led my Mayor Mel Mettler and Council Member Jeff Duraine, were on hand Monday morning as the city took ownership.

Jim Fraley, Columbus public works superintendent says, “This is our third Cat motor grader purchase. We get a five-year repurchase price guarantee through Ziegler, allowing us to budget a fixed annual cost for the unit — with no surprises at replacement time.”

As stated in its press release, Ziegler is committed to providing contractors, landscapers, governmental agencies, truckers, and other construction equipment and engine users in the northeast Twin City area a more convenient outlet for its products and services.

This commitment is realized with its 65,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility. Home to 35 employees, the Columbus facility features 14 service bays, hydraulic cylinder and machining shop, hydraulic hose assembly shop, a 14,000 parts line item warehouse, Cat Rental Store and office space. The complex provides complete sales, parts and service support for the full line of Cat heavy and compact equipment and truck engines.

Commenting on the new Columbus facility, Ziegler President William L. Hoeft says, “Our customer base has grown far beyond what it was even five years ago, and a northeast metro facility has been discussed for a long time. The underlying technologies for all phases of our business, whether related to construction, power generation, engines or agriculture, are extremely sophisticated. Building this new complex from the ground up, enables us to integrate all of our services into an efficient operation, using the most advanced equipment and systems available.”

Mettler, also sees a bright future for the facility: “The Ziegler people have put a tremendous amount of work into this project. They’ve been a first-class operation every step of the way.

“Considering the growth rate of this part of the metro area, I’m confident the facility will be a source of pride, jobs, and excellent customer service for decades to come.”

Ziegler Cat, headquartered in Bloomington, MN, was founded in 1914, and is one of the largest and most successful Caterpillar dealers in North America. The company serves diverse markets, including highway, heavy and light construction, building construction and trades, landscaping, agriculture, manufacturing, mining, timber, government, transportation, utilities, and emergency and standby power generation.

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