Great Dane Trailers announced today its newest manufacturing plant in Huntsville, Tenn., is scheduled to begin production by July 11. The facility will operate three production lines in more than 327,000-square feet of space, manufacturing the popular FREEDOM line of flatbeds along with Great Dane's all-steel drop decks and extendable flatbeds.
"The Huntsville Plant is well-positioned to follow in the fine tradition of our Memphis flatbed facility," said Sam Gupta, senior vice president of manufacturing at Great Dane. "We are in the middle of a boom in the flatbed market, and Huntsville is ready to meet high demands in this industry segment, which is likely to remain aggressive for the foreseeable future."
Great Dane has made significant improvements to the plant, located at 470 Industrial Drive, by adding two full production lines to the existing one and increasing to two finishing lines.
Hiring phases have begun at Great Dane's Huntsville plant with 60 employees currently on-board. Recruitment of skilled and unskilled labor will continue through November, increasing the total to 250 employees by year-end.
"We've made a considerable investment not only in plant capacity but also in the Huntsville community," said Dale McGough, plant manager. "We're assembling a team of manufacturing, engineering and support personnel that is second-to-none and are enlisting the area's finest people to build the industry's finest trailers. That's what Great Dane has been known for since the company started in 1900, and we're proud to become a new part of that history."
Openings are currently available for entry-level plant positions, welders, and painters. Applicants are encouraged to apply in person at the Office of Labor and Workforce Development located at 19962 North Alberta Street in Oneida.