Rockwell Automation is back in the landlord business in Mequon, cutting a $62.5 million deal to buy the real estate under its own manufacturing campus after years of operating there as a tenant. The sprawling suburban complex, just north of Milwaukee, supports manufacturing, shipping and engineering for the Milwaukee-based automation giant and sits on a sizable campus as the company expands its footprint in southeastern Wisconsin. By owning the property again, Rockwell now has full control of a key site in its local network, as reported by Milwaukee Business Journal.
According to the Milwaukee Business Journal, Rockwell closed the deal on Friday, buying the property from RA Mequon Fee Owner LLC for $62.5 million. The company had been leasing the Mequon plant before deciding to purchase the land and buildings outright. State property records cited by the Business Journal confirm the transfer and show that the transaction moves the campus back into Rockwell’s hands after a stretch in which outside investors controlled the real estate.
Previous reporting indicates the campus covers roughly 560,000 square feet on about 47.5 acres at 6400 West Enterprise Drive and was sold in an earlier deal for about $48 million. That history surfaced when local real estate outlet BizTimes detailed an investor purchase several years ago. The Mequon facility has long housed a mix of manufacturing, inventory and office space that supports Rockwell’s broader regional operations.
Deal Comes As Rockwell Ramps Local Investment
The buyback lines up neatly with Rockwell’s push to bulk up U.S. manufacturing, including a $2 billion investment program the company announced last year, according to Business Wire. In that announcement Rockwell said the spending would go toward plants, digital infrastructure and talent, and it quoted an executive saying, “Designing a new facility presents the opportunity to create the future of industrial operations.” The company signaled that its planned new greenfield site in southeastern Wisconsin would be part of a regional expansion that complements its existing Mequon and Milwaukee operations rather than replaces them.
What The Purchase Could Mean For Jobs And Operations
Coverage of Rockwell’s broader buildout has zeroed in on new manufacturing capacity and potential job growth tied to the company’s plans, as reported by WTMJ. The Mequon campus currently houses production and engineering teams, and owning the land instead of leasing it could give Rockwell more room to retool existing space or consolidate functions as needed. Officials and economic-development observers note that companies controlling their own property often move more quickly on capital projects that can create local jobs…