Notable: Tenant Improvements Build in Efficiencies for Kamps and Lanter

Kamps Pallets and Lanter Delivery Systems each have a considerable amount of equipment running in their facilities and trucks coming and going. In leasing space in the second of two industrial buildings in our River Road Logistics development in Council Bluffs, IA, both companies sought to improve efficiency.

Kamps is the nation’s largest manufacturer and service provider for new and recycled pallets with more than 400 locations and 8,500 trailers operating across the U.S. Their 157,207-square-foot River Road facility provides pallet management and recycling and is filled with pallet dismantlers; trim, band, circular and gang saws; nailing machines; and a large heat treatment chamber used to remove moisture and pests from wood and help prevent mold and fungus.

Lanter is a third-party logistics provider with more than 90 U.S. locations and 12,000 daily delivery locations. Their 79,117-square-foot River Road facility operates 24/7 managing, sorting and shipping critical and time-sensitive inventory. Traffic flow is constant and steady with trailers docked and loading and more trailers ready and waiting for their turn.

The tenant improvements we completed included standard office spaces, conference rooms, restrooms, breakrooms and a truckers’ lounge, but the following improvements focused directly on operational efficiency.

• With so much equipment and much of it running simultaneously, it was critical that Kamps have sufficient power throughout the facility. Based on the flow rate needed to start all of its equipment, Kamps requested 3,600 amps of electricity. Recognizing that not all pieces of equipment would be started simultaneously, we looked at the equipment nameplates and researched the equipment’s running electrical needs. Working with an electrical engineer, we ultimately save Kamps money by determining that 1,600 amps was more than sufficient for Kamps to run its equipment and have some back-up power available.

• To support their specialized operations, a custom kiln, provided by the tenant, was installed for heat-treating pallets—an upgrade far beyond standard warehouse specifications. This included the construction of a 53' x 14' specialty concrete pad along with additional site grading to accommodate the kiln’s footprint. Extensive utility enhancements were required, including upgraded gas and electrical service. To ensure seamless material flow, a new traffic door was integrated into the building, complete with structural steel reinforcement to support the modified wall opening and facilitate forklift access. These tailored improvements highlight the facility’s adaptability to meet complex tenant requirements.

• Lanter’s business model is based on its ability to deliver items to its customers with utmost expediency. For this reason, they requested and we installed 15 dock doors. Knowing that additional trailers would be waiting to access those dock doors, we created a 12-stall trailer parking lot as well a stand-alone staging area for 21 trailers.

• To support Lanter’s high-volume, overnight trucking operations, each dock door was equipped with dedicated duplex outlets—both inside and outside the building. Every outlet was placed on its own circuit, enabling over 30 trucks with block heaters to be plugged in simultaneously. This strategic electrical infrastructure ensures the tenant can mobilize quickly and efficiently, even in cold conditions, reinforcing the facility’s capacity to meet demanding, around-the-clock logistics needs.

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