Coachbult.com - Alum-line



Alum-line Inc - 1986-present - Cresco, Iowa

Alum-line – Cresco, Iowa - aluminum service bodies for road work, contractors - Owner Gary D. Gooder started the company in 1986 doing most of the work himself: building, marketing and delivering tack boxes, hog panels and pickup truck accessories. Although the small livestock producer has long been the key customer for Alum-Line, the company has diversified and has entered other areas of the market place. Some of those areas hold especially strong promise. One is the emergency vehicle business. Last year, for instance, the company made a command center for a police department just outside of Detroit. The command center was built by Alum-Line on the back of a fire truck frame and included space and gear for more than a dozen police S.W.A.T. team members and all of their gear. The communications center required a great deal of wiring for computer terminals, radio equipment, FAX machines and other communications equipment. A brief history of the firm’s progression is as follows: 1986: Gary Gooder creates the Alum-Line name and the first products sold. They included tack boxes, hog panels, and pickup accessories. Employees number –1. 1987: A continuation of the company’s first year with other products from other companies also marketed by Alum-Line. Start attending trade shows. Employees number – 2. 1988: The first dealers are established and the first Alum-Line truck bed is built. Employees number – 5. 1989: Alum-Line incorporates as its product line is expanded to include all types of custom aluminum products. Total sales reach $350,000 with the company building its first Alum-Line trailer. Employees number – 9. 1990-93: Products are being improved; revised and new products are being added as the company realizes continued growth. A full line of trailers is now part of the product line. R&B Fabricators, located on Stock Avenue, has joined Alum-Line in expanding its trailer production. A new addition was added to the main plant as tool boxes continue to be a hot item. 1994: Sales have climbed to nearly $3 million as the company continues to grow. The site for Plant II has been purchased and the number of employees is now at 25. 1995: Spurred by increased sales in truck beds, Alum-Line again expands. This time the company started construction of a new building at the Plant II site and also purchases R & B Fabricators and adds their employees to the growing list. Alum-Line now has 40 employees. 1996: The company hits $1 million in sales and expansion for the immediate future is completed. The company now has 40,000 square feet under roof as the number of employees hits 50. 1997: A 4,000 square foot addition is added to Plant II for custom truck body and trailer production. 1998: A 2,000 square foot addition is added to the east side of Plant II for tool box production. Sales continue strong, reaching $5.2 million. The company now has over 150 dealers nation-wide. Total number of employees reaches 60. 1999: Purchase of storage buildings adds 7300 sq. feet for much needed inventory and raw material storages. Complete remodeling of corporate offices. 2000: New record for total sales $6.1 million. Over 100% growth in fire/rescue body sales. New wash bay and transportation shop added to Plant II 4800 sq. ft. addition. 2001: New positions added to Alum-Line including Plant Manager, accountant, and sales staff. Development of much more in-depth web site. 2002: Plant II receives it 5th Addition 2640 sq. ft. is added to increase custom truck body production. An additional 1400 sq. ft. building is added for axle storage. Total square footage is over 60,000. Total employees reach 66.

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www.alum-line.com

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