CURT, a manufacturer of hitches and towing products, is expanding its hitch manufacturing capacity in Eau Claire WI and consolidating its Eau Claire and Philippines electrical manufacturing operations at one location in Mexico.
CURT grew in all categories this past year, the company said, so it expanded its hitch manufacturing capacity and flexibility in Eau Claire by reallocating space previously used to manufacture other products in the line.
“(Our) wiring harness business is one of the categories where we have seen substantial growth,” the company said.
CURT currently manufactures harnesses at a facility in the Philippines and in a small portion of the Eau Claire plant. Consolidating harness production in a high-capacity facility in Mexico allows for expansion of hitch production in Wisconsin, while also uniting the wiring business in a single operation closer to its market.
The company said it expects to use all the space it will have in Mexico for the electrical business over time and has no plans to move other manufacturing to Mexico.
Following the decision, CURT said it is hiring, and the 30 people affected by the change will be offered other positions.
“The company recognizes the significance of this change,” it said. “As such, a great deal of care and effort has gone into solidifying a plan, (and) ensuring a seamless transition for continued on-time product delivery.
“CURT has built many months of projected demand in advance and expects no disruption in service during the transition.”