Utilimaster Corporation
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Utilimaster Corporation produces customized Parcel Delivery Vans (PDVs), walk-in vans (also known as step vans), and truck bodies. It was founded in 1973 in Wakarusa, Indiana. Previously owned by Holiday Rambler and then Harley-Davidson, it was bought by senior management along with an investment group led by Kirkland Messina for $65 million in 1996. Currently ISO 9001 and QS-9000 certified.
Its leading competitor is Morgan Olson (formerly Grumman Olson).
Union City Body Company, a former competitor from Union City, Indiana, was bought by Utilimaster Corp. for an undisclosed amount on November 16, 2005.
Utilimaster's customers include FedEx, United States Postal Service, UPS, Canada Post, Purolator, Airborne, Budget, Penske, Ryder TRS, Frito-Lay, Keebler, Krispy Kreme, IBC, Canadian Linen and Uniform Service, Cintas, AmeriPride, Verizon, Apria Health Care, and Home Depot.
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[edit] Products
[edit] Parcel delivery vans
Primarily used for small businesses (local delivery and repair) and the new UPS Sprinter line of trucks. The chassis are purchased with a finished cab which is modified to accept a custom box on the remaining chassis. Often these trucks only have outside access through a single, rear, sliding or double, hinged doors. These trucks are often also able to have access to the box through the cab.
[edit] Walk-in vans
Also known as step vans, are the primary product of Utilimaster Corporation. They are received as bare chassis with the entire truck built from raw material. Cabs in these trucks have 1 or 2 doors that are sedan or sliding types. The sliding doors are often capable of being locked in the open position for low-speed driving during deliveries.
The cabs also allow full access to the cargo of the trucks in most configurations. Some trucks also have side access doors while nearly all allow outside cargo entry from roll-up or hinged doors. These trucks are the most customizable and can be modified to incredibly diverse possibilities including air conditioning, oxygen tanks, laundry racks, hinged shelving, lift-gates, airtight construction, windows, extra seating, etc.
[edit] Truck bodies
The final truck type that is produced by Utilimaster. These are also finished cabs that are larger vehicles that simply have a box attached to the back before painting. These tend to be large diesel trucks used by Budget and Old Dominion that are capable of hauling more or larger products than the other trucks produced. Access to the cargo area in these trucks is always possible through a rear door and sometimes through a side-access door if available. However, there is rarely, if ever, access available through the cab to the cargo area. These boxes are also generally produced with wood flooring and wood slats on the interior walls.
[edit] Location
Utilimaster is located in North-Central Indiana in the town of Wakarusa. It is a rural area with a concentration on farming as well as manufacturing of recreational vehicles, factory-built housing, and related support industry. (Google Maps link)
[edit] Buildings and resources
Utilimaster consists of numerous facilities that offer independent but related services within the company:
- Plant 1 – Corporate Offices
- Plant 2 – Research and Development
- Plant 3 – Human Resources/Water Testing
- Plant 4 – Rear Structure Bonding
- Plant 5 – Water Testing
- Plant 6 – FAP/Releasing
- Plant 7 – Finished Unit Changes
- Plant 8 – Metal Fabrication
- Plant 10 – Truck Bodies
- Plant 11 – Step Vans (Fleet)
- Plant 12 – Customer Service/Warranty
- Plant 14 – Paint Shop
- Plant 15 – Maintenance
- Plant 16 – Step Vans
- Plant 17 – Weld Shop
- Plant 18 – PDVs
- Plant 32 – Finished Unit Changes
- Plant 60 - Shelving
