US OEM, Wabash National, has taken over a composite manufacturing facility in Minnesota.
The site in the town of Little Falls facility was purchased from Larson Boat Group, with Wabash National hoping to gain direct access to a “unique combination of an experienced and highly skilled workforce in composite manufacturing processes, along with a fully equipped and highly engineered facility capable of producing large-size parts at high rates of volume”.
The move is part of a $10 million longer-term plan to expand production operations for moulded structural composites (MSC), according to the company.
“In support of the continued success of our strategic growth and diversification efforts in advanced composites, we’re making this next step in our multi-year development plan to commercialize moulded structural composites for select parts of the trailer and truck body markets,” said Wabash National CEO, Dick Giromini.
“We remain committed to transforming Wabash National into a more diversified industrial company with a broader array of products and services. Our expanding portfolio of composite offerings is instrumental to that goal,” explained Brent Yeagy, President and Chief Operating Officer.
“The expansion of our MSC manufacturing capabilities, as well as our new licensed ThermHex honeycomb core composite technology that we announced last year, highlight this growing competency in advanced composites.”
The company expects to take ownership of the property in April 2017.