Russell Warren Acquires HarDee Mfg Assets

Aug. 1, 2001
Birmingham AL businessman Russell Warren has purchased the majority of the assets of Plant City FL-based HarDee Mfg Inc. The purchase includes the assets

Birmingham AL businessman Russell Warren has purchased the majority of the assets of Plant City FL-based HarDee Mfg Inc. The purchase includes the assets of Twin States Truck Equipment, located in Columbia SC. Two new companies have been formed: Warren Equipment Inc in Florida and Warren Truck Equipment Inc in South Carolina. Both locations will sell, install, and service products manufactured by other Warren-owned companies as well as those products made in Plant City.

HarDee, which had been in business for almost 50 years, was in Chapter 11 bankruptcy since August 2000. The new company will continue to build lift axles, sold as Warren's E-Z Ride suspensions. Steel and aluminum dump bodies and trailers built in Plant City also will be sold under the Warren name. Warren Equipment will continue to offer parts, repairs, and service for HarDee products.

With this acquisition, Warren gains 70,000 square feet of manufacturing space at Plant City and Columbia. Phone numbers for the new companies remain the same. In Florida, the number is 813-752-5126; in South Carolina, it is 803-776-7400.