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IN THIS ISSUE
Back issues

SCOOP 17
• Warner's NEW Acquisition and Expansion
• New Pickup Unveiling at The Masters
• Steel Prices

• The NTEA's Government Affairs

Warner Acquires New Division and Expands
Warner Acquires New Division and Starts New 22,000 Square Foot Expansion

On January 1, Warner Bodies purchased the fabrication division of Metro Products, an Indianapolis-based company that fabricates small-to-medium volume subcontract work for a variety of customers.  Warner also acquired Metro’s Langsenkamp line of food processing, chemical and pharmaceutical equipment. 

Ground was recently broken on a new 22,000 square-foot expansion attached to Warner’s main production facility.  The new divisions 15 employees along with their high-tech equipment will be moved to this location in mid-June.

"The acquisition is a good fit for Warner.  It provides our truck equipment manufacturing division with new, state-of-the-art fabrication equipment and experienced employees,” states Warner Bodies’ President, Mark Boice.  “The new equipment allows Warner to even further expand our market presence and advance our products.”

Warner consistently works with customers to determine demand for new products.  Recently, our associates were approached with a need for pickup beds for the new Sterling Bullet chassis and the Dodge Cab Chassis.  After considerable research, Warner associates developed the premier pickup conversion for these chassis.

Warner’s pickup conversion was unveiled on 7 silver Sterling Bullet chassis at The Masters golf tournament.  In conjunction with Sterling Corporation and Mercedes Benz, the units were used in Augusta before and during the event.  “It went extremely well,” according to Stephanie Zimmer of Mercedez-Benz.  “Augusta loved the Bullets.”

 Designed solely for the Bullet, Warner’s pickup bed conversion matches the lines and contours of the cab. But don't let the beauty of Warner's conversion fool you - it's robust understructure and long list of features make it rugged and ready for use regardless of the job.

See additional photos and additional information about Warner

pickup conversion at warnerbodies.com

Steel Prices on The Rise
Warner and Vendors are Working Hard

Recent announcements from steel mills are showing unprecedented high prices.  For instance, hot rolled sheets generally stayed in the range of $400 to $500 per ton between 2004 and 2007.  Prices now are over $1,000 per ton.

What does this mean for Warner customers?  Warner has an excellent relationship with two major steel vendors.  When the steel tariffs were issued in 2002, Warner was able to hold out a price increase longer than competitors.  We are looking to these relationships to deliver you the same value again.  However, continued increases are inevitable for every manufacturer.  Please know we are doing everything possible to keep our prices as low as possible.

NTEA's Government Affairs
Another Answer to the Question: "What has the NTEA done for me lately?"

Written by Mark Boice, Warner Bodies' President

During my tenure on NTEA’s Board of Directors, I repeatedly heard the same question from members, “What has the NTEA done for me lately?”  While this might seem like an easy question, I always wanted to tell people something new.  The association is a great liaison with the chassis manufacturers, puts on the incredibly successful show and has more chassis specification information than any other source. However, one of the most important things the NTEA does goes virtually unnoticed to its membership. 

Government advocacy is one of the great benefits provided by a full- service trade association such as the NTEA.  The NTEA’s Washington, DC office helps coordinate all of our individual voices into one loud voice that makes legislators take notice.

Mike Kastner, the NTEA’s government relation’s director, is in charge of legislative and regulatory lobbying along with analyzing pending and proposed legislation.  The NTEA’s efforts in Washington have saved the industry millions of dollars that would have been spent by members complying with unnecessary regulations.  They initiated legislation preventing unneeded crash testing mandates that would be catastrophic to small businesses.  The NTEA also convinced the IRS to exempt many body types from the federal excise tax (FET).  The NTEA works everyday to educate our government leaders about our industry in order to protect your company.