XL Specialized Trailers to expand facility, add jobs

XL Specialized Trailers, Manchester, Iowa, plans to spend $6 to $7 million to expand the company’s headquarters and increase production capacity by more than 30 percent.

The expansion will add roughly 55,000 sq. ft. to the north side of the current manufacturing footprint. Construction is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2021. The expansion also will allow room to add many new positions to the company. The manufacturer employs hundreds of people with plans to add 65 new jobs to the small eastern Iowa city of nearly 5,000 residents.

“Increasing our space and adding more team members positions us to serve our customers better than ever before,” said Stuart Sleper, president and CEO, XL Specialized Trailers. “We will be well positioned for growth in the market and reduce lead times on our products.”

A record sales year in 2019 has allowed XL to power through the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic despite what the market indicates as a 45 percent drop in the low-bed trailer industry in 2020.

“We’re fortunate to have a diversified portfolio in the industries we serve with some sectors performing better than others,” said Sleper.