Winnebago Industries to consolidate RV manufacturing sites
Winnebago Industries, Inc. (NYSE: WGO) announced plans to restructure its manufacturing operations across two of its recreational vehicle brands, including facility closures in Indiana and Iowa.
According to a press release, the company will relocate its Winnebago brand towable RV production from its Middlebury, Indiana campus to the nearby Grand Design RV manufacturing facility, also in Middlebury. Grand Design will also consolidate select production lines within its existing footprint. The Winnebago Towables campus in Middlebury will subsequently be closed and offered for sale.
In a separate move, Winnebago's B-Van motorhome production will shift from Lake Mills, Iowa, to the company's primary motorhome manufacturing facility in Forest City, Iowa. The Lake Mills facility will also be closed and listed for sale. The company said the transitions are expected to occur over the next several months.
Winnebago Industries stated that Winnebago Towables and Grand Design will remain separate businesses, each retaining its own leadership, product development, sales force, dealer network, and product portfolio. No product lines are being discontinued.
"These actions reflect our commitment to thoughtfully managing our manufacturing footprint, leveraging the strengths of our portfolio and deploying resources where they can create the greatest value," said Michael Happe, president and chief executive officer of Winnebago Industries.
The company said it does not anticipate any disruption to production and expects no changes to ordering processes, dealer relationships, warranty support, or customer service during the transition.
