Forest River Bus to acquire New York bus company
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A subsidiary of Elkhart-based Forest River is adding to its portfolio. Forest River Bus, headquartered in Goshen, plans to acquire Trans Tech Bus, a manufacturer of Type-A school buses based in Warwick, New York, though financial terms are not being disclosed.
Forest River said in a news release that the deal will broaden the number of products Trans Tech can offer customers, while allowing Forest River to grow its presence in the Type-A market.
Trans Tech bills itself as a leading Type-A school bus manufacturer and a pioneer in all-electric school buses. Owner John Corr said now is the time to “pass the baton to an organization that can take the product to even greater heights.”
President John Phraner said Forest River shares the company’s passion for “building a bus driver’s bus.”
“Our success over the last three decades is a result of our team’s commitment to building the best Type-A school bus on the road, our customers who helped drive innovation and build quality, and the dedication of our dealerships who sell, service, and support the Trans Tech Bus product,” Phraner said in the release.
The companies did not specify when the acquisition is expected to close.
Forest River said its management team will work closely with Trans Tech leadership over the next few months to transition the manufacturing process to Forest River’s main facility in Goshen.
Trans Tech said it will provide incentives to its employees to remain with the company during the transition process. Manufacturing will continue in New York until the end of August, when the relocation to Goshen will take place.
The companies did not specify how many jobs would be negatively impacted by the acquisition. A request for more information from Inside INdiana Business was not returned.
“We are honored to be taking the reins of such an accomplished and revered company,” Forest River Bus President David Wright said in the release. “We are looking forward to continuing the pioneering legacy of Trans Tech Bus and ensuring school districts and contractors continue to receive school buses that are safe, efficient, and built to last.”
Forest River said Trans Tech Bus will maintain its dealer relationships across the country and continue to honor its customer support and product order fulfillment responsibilities.
The deal comes six months after Forest River Bus announced it had acquired Kansas City, Missouri-based Collins Bus.