Cimarron Trailers, an employee-owned horse and livestock trailer manufacturer, has announced the acquisition of the assets of TravAlum, a local aluminum trailer manufacturer based in Manhattan. The company will convert TravAlum to its first expansion outside its home base of Chickasha, Okla.
“Cimarron Trailers is blessed with growth from our dealers and customers,” said Ben Janssen, president of Cimarron Trailers. “We’ve been looking for an opportunity to expand our production beyond our facility in Chickasha. The opportunity to employ skilled labor in a facility that is already manufacturing aluminum trailers is a win-win for both companies.”
TravAlum’s former COO Jeff Grieshaber agrees. He will become the new plant manager of the Cimarron, Kansas location.
“The trailer business has changed since our family started TravAlum by Liberty 31 years ago,” he said. “With the changes in technology, distribution, and supply chain, we looked for a partner we knew well, who matched our values, and with whom we would be stronger together. We want to build on what we have already created, keep our employees’ jobs local, and build a financially secure future for them.”
The asset acquisition will close TravAlum on March 30 and open the facility on March 31 as a Cimarron-branded location. TravAlum’s approximately 30 employees are welcome to consider new positions at Cimarron. New employees will join the approximately 500 other Folience employees in ESOP ownership.