(Le Mars) — SmithCo, the side dump trailer manufacturing company located at C-38 and Highway 75 of Le Mars has been purchased by a Minnesota Pork Production Company. According to a news release, Christensen Farms of Sleepy Eye, Minnesota, purchased SmithCo. Greg Smith, a native of Lawton, Iowa,
founded SmithCo in 1994. Smith retired from his position as SmithCo president and CEO. His successor is Scott Lovell, the former operations manager at SmithCo. Lovell now serves as SmithCo plant manager and new CEO. He says the manufacturing facility was seeking a buyer for the past couple of years.
Lovell says Christensen Farms was interested in the local trailer
manufacturing company in order to have a greater investment portfolio.
The news release says all current SmithCo management staff will remain in their current roles. Lovell says he doesn’t see any changes to plant’s mission.
SmithCo offers the largest selection of side dump trailers in the world for a variety of markets including road and building contractors, aggregate producers, agriculture industry, among other industries.
Lovell says the local trailer manufacturing company will retain the name of SmithCo.
There was no mention as to the sale amount involving the financial transaction. SmithCo employs nearly 100 people, and Lovell says the company is committed to staying at Le Mars.
