Trailer Supplier Plans Winamac Hub
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowTexas-Based Antares Trailer LLC is planning to locate its Midwest hub to Pulaski County and add nearly four dozen jobs by 2017. The trailer and chassis equipment supplier says the new facility will be operational by next month. February 11, 2014
News Release
WINAMAC, Ind. – Antares Trailer, LLC, a supplier of flatbed trailer and intermodal chassis equipment, announced plans today to locate its Midwest hub here, creating up to 42 new jobs by 2017.
The Houston, Texas-based company will lease, renovate and equip a 50,000 square-foot building in Winamac. The facility, which will be operational by March, will allow the company to begin assembling composite flatbed and drop deck trailers for its dealers by April.
“There's a reason why Indiana is called the Crossroads of America,” said Victor Smith, Indiana Secretary of Commerce. “Indiana's logistics and transportation network is robust, with thousands of railroad miles and millions of freight tons traveling through the state each year. Indiana is the ideal home for equipment suppliers like Antares, growing with the industry and benefiting from the state’s low business costs and skilled Hoosier workforce.”
Antares plans to begin hiring general assembly and welder positions immediately. Interested applicants may apply by emailing their information to careers@antaresequipment.com.
“It was important to Antares that we were close to our core dealers, had access to skilled labor and located in a state that understood how to do business,” said Bobby Horton, a partner with Antares and designer of Antares' new flatbed trailer. “We are excited about the opportunities we have across our flatbed trailer division, our intermodal chassis division and our parts business. Indiana just fit.”
Antares historically has been involved in the marketing of intermodal chassis and containers, serving logistics companies and transportation equipment dealers across the country. With the creation of this new Midwest hub, the company will be entering the composite flatbed and drop deck trailer market, with plans to produce about 50 trailers a month. With a growing customer base in the Midwest, an Indiana location will also allow Antares to transfer the delivery point for intermodal chassis from Texas to the railhead near its Winamac facility for customers located in the Chicago market.
The Indiana Economic Development Corporation offered Antares Trailer, LLC up to $225,000 in conditional tax credits based on the company's job creation plans. These tax credits are performance-based, meaning until Hoosiers are hired, the company is not eligible to claim incentives. The town of Winamac approved additional incentives at the request of Pulaski County Economic Development.
“An entrepreneurial culture is strong here in Winamac and in Pulaski County,” said John Plowman, president of the Winamac Town Council. “With strong infrastructure, great educational institutions and a central location near both Indianapolis and Chicago, our community helps provide companies with the environment they need. We're excited that Antares chose Winamac and look forward to watching them grow here.”
About Antares Trailer
Antares Trailers is a premier manufacturer of transportation equipment for both the over the road trailer and intermodal chassis equipment markets. Its ownership team brings a combined 50+ years of experience designing, manufacturing, and marketing flatbed, specialty trailer, intermodal chassis, and aftermarket parts. For more information, please email info@antaresequipment.com.
About IEDC
Created in 2005 to replace the former Department of Commerce, the Indiana Economic Development Corporation is governed by a 12-member board chaired by Governor Mike Pence. Victor Smith serves as the Indiana Secretary of Commerce and Eric Doden is the president of the IEDC.
The IEDC oversees programs enacted by the General Assembly including tax credits, workforce training grants and public infrastructure assistance. All tax credits are performance-based. Therefore, companies must first invest in Indiana through job creation or capital investment before incentives are paid. A company who does not meet its full projections only receives a percentage of the incentives proportional to its actual investment. For more information about IEDC, visit www.iedc.in.gov.
Source: Indiana Economic Development Corp.