Spartan Chassis opens two new facilities

May 1, 2007
Spartan Chassis Inc, a subsidiary of Spartan Motors Inc, announced the purchase of two manufacturing facilities near its headquarters in Charlotte MI.

Spartan Chassis Inc, a subsidiary of Spartan Motors Inc, announced the purchase of two manufacturing facilities near its headquarters in Charlotte MI.

The facilities, which total 80,000 square feet, will help Spartan meet anticipated increased demand from its military customers to supply and integrate key chassis components for Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles, while also creating capacity at Spartan's other facilities for firetruck and motorhome chassis production.

Spartan Motors plans to spend $8 million to purchase and renovate the facilities, and expects the two recently purchased facilities to be operational in the third quarter of 2007.

The MRAP vehicles are designed to protect their occupants from a combination of mines, rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) through their V-shaped hull, raised chassis, and improved armor. According to United States government reports, roadside bombs and IEDs account for 70 percent of US deaths and injuries in Iraq.