Winnebago Industries Expands Motor Home Production
15 November 1999
Winnebago Industries Expands Motor Home Production
FOREST CITY, Iowa, Nov. 15 -- Winnebago Industries, Inc.
today announced expansion plans for a $2.7 million assembly
facility to manufacture the Company's Ultimate Advantage and Ultimate Freedom
motor homes in Charles City, Iowa.
The selected site is a new 50,000-square foot building built by the
Charles City Economic Development group on speculation and located directly
across the street from Winnebago Industries' Hardwoods Division. The facility
will eventually include the Ultimate chassis modification division that is
currently located in another Charles City location. Employment at this
facility is anticipated to be in excess of 125 full-time employees within the
next two years.
Production of Ultimate motor homes is currently scheduled to begin at the
new facility in the spring of 2000. Built on the Freightliner and Spartan
rear engine diesel chassis, the Ultimate motor home lines are Winnebago
Industries' most luxurious product offerings, ranging from 36- to 40-feet in
length with suggested base retail prices ranging from approximately $183,000
to $250,000.
"We are extremely excited about the opportunity to continue to grow within
the Charles City community, which has so warmly welcomed us this year," said
Winnebago Industries' Chairman, CEO and President Bruce D. Hertzke. "We
continue to experience growth as a result of new product development,
favorable economic conditions and the demographic increase of our prime target
market of people age 50 and above. This is the fourth expansion announcement
from Winnebago Industries within the past two years to meet this growing
demand for our products. We will continue to explore opportunities in order
to meet the anticipated demand for our products in the future."
Hertzke continued, "With existing skilled employees in our Ultimate
chassis modification plant located within the community, we feel the Charles
City site is an extremely good fit for us. The stall-built environment that
the new facility will provide ensures the highest possible quality with
personal craftsmanship for these high-line motor homes. Moving this
manufacturing operation to Charles City will also provide the Company with the
capability to more than double production volume of our Ultimate motor homes,
while also increasing the production capabilities at our Forest City
facility."
"For over forty years Winnebago Industries has played an important role in
Iowa's manufacturing community," said Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack. "This
expansion not only increases production for the company, but also creates
great job opportunities in northeast Iowa. I am proud to have this industry
leader continue to grow in our state."
"The second expansion of Winnebago Industries in Charles City underscores
the company's commitment to Iowa and its workforce," said David J. Lyons,
Director of the Iowa Department of Economic Development. "Winnebago's four
Iowa locations provide employment opportunities to thousands of citizens
throughout the state. Winnebago knows that expanding in Iowa is a smart
move."
Winnebago Industries, Inc. is a leading manufacturer of motor homes that
are self-contained recreation vehicles used primarily in leisure travel and
outdoor recreation activities. Other products manufactured by the Company
consist principally of a variety of component products for other
manufacturers. The Company builds quality products with state-of-the-art
computer-aided design and manufacturing systems on automotive-styled assembly
lines. The Company believes its products conform to the most rigorous quality
testing in the RV industry. The Company's common stock is listed on the New
York, Chicago and Pacific Stock Exchanges and traded under the symbol WGO.
Options for the Company's common stock are traded on the Chicago Board Options
Exchange. Visit Winnebago Industries' web site at http://www.winnebagoind.com/.