Kentucky Trailer, the long-standing custom trailer manufacturer based in Louisville, Kentucky, and High Tech Performance Trailers, a manufacturer of Motorsports Racing Transporters based in Painesville, Ohio, announced a joint venture to manufacture and sell custom trailers to the motorsports transport, corporate marketing, training, hospitality, mobile marketing and event marketing industries.
Throughout the past two decades, Kentucky Trailer has produced trailer shells for High Tech Performance Trailers’ aftermarket modification needs. The two companies have formally joined forces to cohesively design, manufacture, sell, and market custom trailers to a broader market base under the Kentucky-High Tech Performance Trailers name.
“This is an exciting development for both Kentucky Trailer and High Tech Performance Trailers,” said Gary A. Smith, Sr., President and CEO of Kentucky Trailer. “Having opened our new state-of-the-art plant in Louisville earlier this year, we bring expanded production capability to this partnership, and by joining with High Tech in this joint venture, together we’re exceptionally well-positioned to serve High Tech customers’ motorsports transportation needs.”
Sales efforts and customer interface for High Tech Performance Trailers’ customer base will remain in Painesville, Ohio, with no interruption in current sales needs or aftermarket assistance. Bob Manley will continue as High Tech Performance Trailers President and will lead the sales and marketing efforts for the joint venture.
Manley stated, “This is a very exciting development for High Tech Performance Trailers. While we have enjoyed a twenty-four-year working relationship with Kentucky, this formal partnership brings increased efficiencies, a huge increase in production capacity, and ultimately, better value to our customers. We see tremendous opportunities in all motorsports arenas as well as mobile marketing trailer opportunities. Plus, we’ll be able to focus more energy on expanding our awning division, which will remain in Painesville, Ohio.”
Production activities will transition in 2010 from Painesville to Kentucky Trailer’s all-new plant in Louisville, Kentucky. Kentucky Trailer’s new 240,000-square-foot plant is specifically designed for mixed model trailer production and is a LEEDS compliant facility, which marks Kentucky Trailers’ entry into eco-friendly trailer production.
The two firms’ first joint venture trailer, produced for Rusty Wallace Racing, will be displayed at the Performance Racing Show (PRI) in Orlando, Florida from December 10-12.