Jump to content

The Shyft Group: Difference between revisions

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
→History: Fixed location of duramag and magnum
Tags: Mobile edit Mobile web edit
Reverting edit(s) by 2A14:B80:75B4:C9B2:7AE2:E9F6:8B4C:782B (talk) to rev. 1232592413 by WiinterU: Vandalism (RW 16.1)
 
(38 intermediate revisions by 23 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|American automobile design company}}
{{More citations needed|date=December 2009}}
{{More citations needed|date=December 2009}}
{{Infobox company
{{Infobox company
| name = The Shyft Group
| name = The Shyft Group, Inc.
| logo =
| logo = The Shyft Group logo.png
| former_name = Spartan Motors
| type = [[Public company|Public]]
| type = [[Public company|Public]]
| traded_as = {{NASDAQ|SHYF}}<br>[[Russell 2000 Index|Russell 2000 Component]]
| traded_as = {{NASDAQ|SHYF}}<br>[[Russell 2000 Index|Russell 2000 Component]]
Line 10: Line 12:
| Charles McManamey |
| Charles McManamey |
| George Sztykiel | }}
| George Sztykiel | }}
| location = [[Novi, Michigan]], [[United States|U.S.]]
| location = [[Novi, Michigan]], U.S.
| key_people = {{Unbulleted list|class=nowrap|Daryl M. Adams (president & CEO)|Jonathan Douyard (CFO)}}
| key_people = {{Unbulleted list|class=nowrap|John Dunn ([[President (corporate title)|president]] & [[Chief executive officer|CEO]])|Jonathan Douyard ([[Chief financial officer|CFO]])}}
| revenue = {{nowrap|{{increase}} {{US$}}756.54 million {{small|(2019)}}}}
| revenue = {{nowrap|{{decrease}} {{US$}}676.0 million {{small|(2020)}}}}
| operating_income = {{nowrap|{{increase}} {{US$}}47.61 million {{small|(2019)}}}}
| operating_income = {{nowrap|{{increase}} {{US$}}48.85 million {{small|(2020)}}}}
| net_income = {{nowrap|{{increase}} {{US$}}-12.57 million {{small|(2019)}}}}
| net_income = {{nowrap|{{increase}} {{US$}}48.2 million {{small|(2020)}}}}
| assets = {{nowrap|{{increase}} {{US$}}450.54 million {{small|(2019)}}}}
| assets = {{nowrap|{{decrease}} {{US$}}359.05 million {{small|(2020)}}}}
| equity = {{nowrap|{{increase}} {{US$}}172.27 million {{small|(2019)}}}}
| equity = {{nowrap|{{increase}} {{US$}}200.33 million {{small|(2020)}}}}
| num_employees = {{nowrap|2,724 {{small|(2019)}}}}
| num_employees = {{nowrap|3,000 {{small|(2021)}}}}
| homepage = {{url|theshyftgroup.com}}
| homepage = {{url|https://theshyftgroup.com/}}
| footnotes = <ref name="10-K 2019">{{cite web|url=https://theshyftgroup.gcs-web.com/static-files/7f1db26d-b911-4222-ab52-d30594381388|title=US SEC: Form 10-K The Shyft Group|publisher=[[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission]]|accessdate=September 17, 2020}}</ref><ref name="obit">[http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/eaton/obits/c14011.txt MIGenWeb Archives]" 1998 Charlotte Shopping Guide obituaries.</ref>
| footnotes = <ref name="10-K 2019">{{cite web|url=https://theshyftgroup.gcs-web.com/static-files/7f1db26d-b911-4222-ab52-d30594381388|title=US SEC: Form 10-K The Shyft Group|publisher=[[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission]]|access-date=September 17, 2020}}</ref><ref name="obit">[http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/eaton/obits/c14011.txt MIGenWeb Archives]" 1998 Charlotte Shopping Guide obituaries.</ref><ref name="TSG Careers">{{cite web|url=https://theshyftgroup.com/careers/|title=The Shyft Group Careers|access-date=February 11, 2021}}</ref><ref name="8-K 2020">{{cite web|url=https://theshyftgroup.gcs-web.com/node/18311/html|title=US SEC: Form 8-K The Shyft Group|publisher=[[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission]]|access-date=March 12, 2021}}</ref>
}}
}}


'''The Shyft Group, Inc.''', formerly known as '''Spartan Motors''', is an American automobile design company that designs, engineers and manufactures specialty [[chassis]], specialty vehicles, truck bodies and aftermarket parts for the recreational vehicle (RV), government services, and delivery and service markets. The company started in 1975 as a direct result of the bankruptcy of [[Diamond Reo]].<ref name="savvy">[http://www.reversetardis.com/go/spartanmotors/spartan001.jpg]" New Truck Factory Grows Out Of Diamond Reo Savvy</ref> It is currently headquartered in [[Novi, Michigan|Novi]], [[Michigan]]<ref name="10-K 2019"/> and has 3,000 employees.<ref name="TSG Careers"/>
'''The Shyft Group''' ({{NASDAQ|SHYF}}) (www.theshyftgroup.com), formerly known as '''Spartan Motors, Inc.''', the North American leader in specialty vehicle manufacturing, assembly, and upfit for the last-mile delivery, specialty service, work truck, and recreational vehicle markets. The Shyft Group’s go-to-market brands include Utilimaster, Royal Truck Body, Strobes-R-Us, Spartan RV Chassis, and Builtmore Contract Manufacturing. Headquartered in [[Novi, Michigan|Novi]], [[Michigan]], the company operates from 25 facilities on 15 campus locations in nine states and two countries, employing 2,700 associates in manufacturing facility and office locations.<ref name="10-K 2019"/> It was founded in 1975 when four out of work engineers leveraged their combined expertise in commercial specialty vehicle design and manufacturing to build custom fire chassis.


==History==
==History==
In 1974, [[Lansing, Michigan|Lansing]]-based Diamond Reo Trucks filed for bankruptcy.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1975/05/31/archives/diamond-reo-trucks-declared-bankrupt-trustee-is-named.html |title=Diamond Reo Trucks Declared Bankrupt; Trustee Is Named |date=May 31, 1975 |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=14 November 2022 |agency=UPI |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref name=AHR43>{{cite journal |url=https://autohistory.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/AHR043.pdf#page=24 |title=Reo and Diamond Reo: The Rise and Fall of the World's Toughest Truck, Part 2 |author1=Ebert, Robert R. |author2=Falkovich, Timothy J. |date=Spring 2005 |issue=43 |publisher=The Society of Automotive Historians |journal=Automotive History Review |issn=1056-2729 |pages=24–36 |access-date=14 November 2022}}</ref> The Form-Rite Corporation of [[Charlotte, Michigan]] was owed a significant sum by Diamond Reo, which had been Form-Rite's largest client; Form-Rite had supplied fiberglass parts to Reo. During the bankruptcy hearings, Form-Rite president Charles R. McManamey learned of a significant contract that Reo had just won for custom fire truck chassis. From connections made through the hearing, McManamey was able to draw together the additional talent and knowledge required to build such trucks, and founded Spartan Motors, Inc. as a wholly owned subsidiary of Form-Rite.


⚫
During the establishment of Spartan Motors, manufacturing was set up in Form-Rite's {{cvt|12000|ft2}} warehouse at 426 Sumpter Rd.<ref name="made">{{cite news |url=http://www.reversetardis.com/go/spartanmotors/spartan002.jpg |newspaper=Charlotte Republican-Tribune |date=March 18, 1976 |title=Heavy Trucks Now Made In Charlotte}}</ref> in Charlotte. Charles McManamey was named Spartan Motors' chairman of the board.<ref name="made"/> Former Reo vice president of engineering and marketing George W. Sztykiel became Spartan's president.<ref name="made"/> Ron Partee, former Reo manager of original equipment manufacturing, stepped in as the vice president of sales.<ref name="made"/> Spartan's vice president of engineering was former Reo director of engineering John Knox.<ref name="made"/> Kenneth C. McManamey, former Form-Rite production engineer and supervisor, served as Spartan's manager of operations.<ref name="made"/>
In 1974, Lansing, Michigan-based Diamond Reo Trucks was forced into bankruptcy. Diamond Reo had been the largest customer of the Form-Rite Corporation in Charlotte, Michigan, and Form-Rite was owed a considerable amount of money for plastic parts they had supplied to Reo. During the bankruptcy hearings, Form-Rite president Charles R. McManamey learned of a significant contract that Reo had just won for custom fire truck chassis. From connections made through the hearing, McManamey was able to draw together the additional talent and knowledge required to build such trucks.

⚫
During the establishment of Spartan Motors, Inc., then a wholly owned subsidiary of Form-Rite, manufacturing was set up in Form-Rite's 12,000 square foot warehouse at 426 Sumpter Rd.<ref name="made">[http://www.mcsquaredimaging.com/go/spartanmotors/spartan002.jpg Charlotte Republican-Tribune March 18, 1976]" Heavy Trucks Now Made In Charlotte</ref> in Charlotte. Charles McManamey was named Spartan Motors’ chairman of the board.<ref name="made"/> Former Reo vice president of engineering and marketing George W. Sztykiel became Spartan's president.<ref name="made"/> Ron Partee, former Reo manager of original equipment manufacturing, stepped in as the vice president of sales.<ref name="made"/> Spartan's vice president of engineering was former Reo director of engineering John Knox.<ref name="made"/> Kenneth C. McManamey, former Form-Rite production engineer and supervisor served as Spartan's manager of operations.<ref name="made"/>
Sztykiel, Partee, Knox, and Ken McManamey all donated their time to build the first chassis on speculation.<ref name="made"/> By January 1, 1976, the chassis was completed. Within weeks it had been sold to FMC in Tipton, Indiana<ref name="savvy">[http://www.mcsquaredimaging.com/go/spartanmotors/spartan001.jpg]" New Truck Factory Grows Out Of Diamond Reo Savvy</ref> and Spartan had 16 custom fire truck cab & chassis orders as well as an order for a one-of-a-kind 140,000 pound GVW coal carrier.<ref name="made"/>
Sztykiel, Partee, Knox, and Ken McManamey all donated their time to build the first chassis on speculation.<ref name="made"/> By January 1, 1976, the chassis was completed. Within weeks it had been sold to FMC in [[Tipton, Indiana]]<ref name=AHR43/>{{rp|30}}<ref name="savvy" /> and Spartan had 16 custom fire truck cab & chassis orders as well as an order for a one-of-a-kind 140,000 pound GVW coal carrier.<ref name="made"/>
In March 1976, Spartan Motors employed 12 former Reo employees,<ref name="made"/> including Reo's ex-quality control manager Theodore C. Huff, former staff engineer-chassis at Reo Lawrence E. Karkau, and Gerald L. Geary who had been assistant manager of truck design at Reo. Charles McManamey's sons James and Donald also worked for Spartan Motors, as well as several other part-time workers.
In March 1976, Spartan Motors employed 12 former Reo employees,<ref name="made"/> including Reo's ex–quality control manager Theodore C. Huff, former staff engineer-chassis at Reo Lawrence E. Karkau, and Gerald L. Geary, who had been assistant manager of truck design at Reo. Spartan was spun-off with its own officers and directors that April.<ref name=AHR43/>{{rp|30}} Charles McManamey's sons James and Donald also worked for Spartan Motors, as well as several other part-time workers. The company quickly outgrew the Form-Rite warehouse, and within a few years construction was started for a new facility on Reynolds Road in Charlotte. The McManameys sold their stock in the company and in 1984 Spartan went public, trading on NASDAQ under the symbol “SPAR”.

Spartan Motors entered the United Kingdom transit bus market in 1995 with the unveiling of its Spartan TX [[low-floor bus|low-floor]] [[single-deck bus]] chassis at Coach & Bus 95, held at the [[National Exhibition Centre]] in [[Birmingham]], England. The Spartan TX, built with an [[Alusuisse]]-framed [[East Lancashire Coachbuilders|East Lancs]] Opus 2 body seating 53 passengers to a budget of {{GBPConvert|82000|year=1995}}, was designed to be durable while saving manufacturing costs, and was fitted with a rear-mounted [[Cummins B Series engine]], an [[Allison Transmission|Allison]] transmission and an [[Eaton Corporation|Eaton]] air suspension. Only two Spartan TX buses were produced, with both being delivered to [[Barnsley]]-based [[Yorkshire Traction]] by 1996.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Morgan |first=Mike |url=https://archive.org/details/cbw-issue214/page/n27/mode/2up |date=20 April 1996 |title=Spartan by name, Spartan by nature |magazine=[[Coach & Bus Week]] |issue=214 |pages=28–29 |location=Peterborough |publisher=Emap |access-date=1 June 2024}}</ref>
The company quickly outgrew the Form-Rite warehouse, and within a few years construction was started for a new facility on Reynolds Road in Charlotte. The McManameys sold their stock in the company and in 1984 Spartan went public, trading on NASDAQ under the symbol “SPAR”.

In June 2020, Spartan Motors, Inc. announced its corporate name change to The Shyft Group, Inc. following the divestiture of its Emergency Response (ER) business unit. It began trading on NASDAQ under the symbol "SHYF".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://theshyftgroup.com/press-releases/spartan-motors-announces-new-corporate-name-the-shyft-group-2/|title=Spartan Motors Announces New Corporate Name, The Shyft Group|access-date=2021-01-26}}</ref>


In October 2020, Shyft Group acquired the aluminium truck-body manufacturer F3 MFG Inc. based in [[Waterville, Maine]], with its brands DuraMag and Magnum.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.dbusiness.com/daily-news/shyft-group-acquires-aluminum-truck-body-manufacturer/|title=Shyft Group Acquires Aluminum Truck Body Manufacturer|access-date=2020-10-01}}</ref>
In October 2020, Shyft Group acquired the aluminum truck-body manufacturer F3 MFG Inc. based in [[Waterville, Maine]], with its brands DuraMag and Magnum.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.dbusiness.com/daily-news/shyft-group-acquires-aluminum-truck-body-manufacturer/|title=Shyft Group Acquires Aluminum Truck Body Manufacturer|access-date=2020-10-01}}</ref>


== Active subsidiaries ==
== Active subsidiaries ==


===Spartan RV Chassis===
===Spartan RV Chassis===
Spartan RV Chassis engineers, designs, manufactures, sells, and services the industry’s premier Class A diesel RV chassis for OEMs such as Entegra Coach, Newmar, Foretravel, and [[Jayco]]. Their commitment to after-sale customer support and service spans from factory service centers, to dealer authorized service centers, Spartan RV Owners Training, and aftermarket and service parts.
Spartan RV Chassis engineers, designs, manufactures, sells, and services Class A diesel RV chassis for OEMs such as [[Entegra Coach]], [[Winnebago Industries|Newmar]], Foretravel, and [[Jayco]].


===Utilimaster===
===Utilimaster===
[[File:PurolatorVehicle.JPG|thumb|right|[[Utilimaster]] [[delivery van]]]]
[[Utilimaster]] designs, manufacturers, and assembles purpose-built commercial trucks for the first-to-last mile delivery segments, specialty service vehicles, and other vocation-specific work trucks, across GVWR classes 1-7. The Utilimaster brand is a frontrunner in electric vehicle assembly for the commercial truck category, in classes 2-6. Utilimaster was acquired in November, 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://theshyftgroup.com/press-releases/spartan-motors-announces-agreement-to-acquire-utilimaster-corporation/|title=Spartan Motors Announces Agreement to Acquire Utilimaster Corporation|date=2009-11-09|accessdate=2020-09-17|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[Utilimaster]] was acquired in November 2009. It designs, manufacturers, and assembles purpose-built delivery and other vocational trucks.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://theshyftgroup.com/press-releases/spartan-motors-announces-agreement-to-acquire-utilimaster-corporation/|title=Spartan Motors Announces Agreement to Acquire Utilimaster Corporation|date=2009-11-09|access-date=2020-09-17}}</ref>


=== Strobes-R-Us ===
=== Strobes-R-Us ===
Strobes-R-Us is a distributor and installer of specialty vehicle upfits and lighting equipment for local, state, and federal law enforcement and other government agencies, utility and telecom providers, construction companies, and specialty fleets. Strobes-R-Us was acquired in December, 2018.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://spartanmotors.gcs-web.com/node/16436/pdf|title=Spartan Motors Acquires Strobes-R-Us|last1=Hamilton|first1=Samara|date=2018-12-17|work=|accessdate=2019-10-29|url-status=live}}</ref>
Strobes-R-Us was acquired on December 17, 2018. It is a distributor and installer of specialty vehicle upfits and lighting equipment.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://spartanmotors.gcs-web.com/node/16436/pdf|title=Spartan Motors Acquires Strobes-R-Us|last1=Hamilton|first1=Samara|date=2018-12-17|access-date=2019-10-29}}</ref>


=== General Truck Body ===
=== General Truck Body ===
General Truck Body, rebranded to Utilimaster, became part of the Company in June, 2019. The [[Montebello, California]] based operation manufactures and assembles refrigerated and non-refrigerated truck bodies.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://spartanmotors.gcs-web.com/node/16906/pdf|title=Spartan Motors Purchases Assets Of California-Based General Truck Body|last=Hamilton|first=Samara|date=2019-06-13|website=Spartan Motors|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-02-03}}</ref>
General Truck Body was acquired in June 2019 and merged with Utilimaster. It manufactures and assembles refrigerated and non-refrigerated truck bodies.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://spartanmotors.gcs-web.com/node/16906/pdf|title=Spartan Motors Purchases Assets Of California-Based General Truck Body|last=Hamilton|first=Samara|date=2019-06-13|website=Spartan Motors|access-date=2020-02-03}}</ref>


=== Royal Truck Body ===
=== Royal Truck Body ===
Royal Truck Body, engineers, designs, manufactures, assembles, and installs work truck service, contractor, and van bodies, and corresponding accessories. Royal Truck Body was acquired on September 20, 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://spartanmotors.gcs-web.com/node/17066/pdf|title=Spartan Motors Acquires Royal Truck Body|last=Hamilton|first=Samara|date=2019-09-19|website=Spartan Motors|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-02-03}}</ref>
Royal Truck Body was acquired on September 20, 2019. It manufactures van bodies and accessories.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://spartanmotors.gcs-web.com/node/17066/pdf|title=Spartan Motors Acquires Royal Truck Body|last=Hamilton|first=Samara|date=2019-09-19|website=Spartan Motors|access-date=2020-02-03}}</ref>

=== DuraMag and Magnum ===
On October 1, 2020, Shyft acquired F3 MFG, an aluminum truck body and accessory manufacturer behind the DuraMag Body and Magnum Truck Rack brands. The F3 MFG name was phased out and the DuraMag and Magnum brands were nested under the Shyft Specialty Vehicles business unit.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theshyftgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/f3agreement-press-release.pdf|title=The Shyft Group Acquires Northeast Aluminum Truck Body Manufacturer F3 MFG, Inc.|last=Hamilton|first=Samara|date=2020-10-01|website=The Shyft Group|access-date=2020-10-01}}</ref>

===Blue Arc===
Shyft launched Blue Arc EV Solutions in March 2022 to build commercial [[battery electric vehicle|battery electric]] [[delivery van]]s.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.autonews.com/mobility-report/shyft-group-formerly-spartan-motors-launch-blue-arc-ev-solutions-delivery-vans |title=Shyft Group to launch Blue Arc EV Solutions, delivery vans |author=Truett, Richard |date=March 9, 2022 |work=Automotive News |access-date=14 November 2022 |url-access=subscription}}</ref> The Randy Marion Automotive Group placed a pre-order for the vans that September,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.fleetequipmentmag.com/shyft-group-blue-arc/ |title=The Shyft Group secures pre-order for all-electric delivery walk-in vans |author=Lovrak, Tess |date=October 18, 2022 |work=Fleet Equipment |access-date=14 November 2022}}</ref> at about the same time the first prototypes were shown to the press; they are offered in lengths of {{cvt|12|to|22|ft}} and multiple [[gross vehicle weight rating]]s, ranging from Class 3 to 5.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thedetroitbureau.com/2022/10/first-look-blue-arc-battery-electric-delivery-van/ |title=First Look: Blue Arc's Battery-Electric Delivery Van |author=Szczesny, Joseph |date=October 4, 2022 |work=The Detroit Bureau |access-date=14 November 2022}}</ref>


== Former subsidiaries ==
== Former subsidiaries ==


=== Spartan Emergency Response Vehicles ===
=== Spartan Emergency Response Vehicles ===
[[File:Spartan Gladiator - Pingree Grove Fire Protection District - Pingree Grove, Illinois.jpg|thumb|right|[[Fire truck]] for [[Pingree Grove, Illinois]], built on a Spartan Gladiator chassis]]
Spartan Emergency Response Vehicles (Spartan ERV) is a manufacturer of custom [[Fire engine|fire engines]]. After several years of supplying chassis for fire trucks, Spartan acquired fire apparatus body manufacturers [[Luverne (automobile)|Luverne]] and Quality Manufacturing in the mid-1990s. Luverne used its early expertise in the automotive and heavy truck industries to begin building fire apparatus in 1912. Quality got its start six decades later, catering to the Southern firefighting market. In 2003, Luverne and Quality were consolidated under the names Crimson Fire and Crimson Fire Aerials. In 2011, Classic Fire of [[Ocala, Florida]] was acquired and became a new Crimson Fire manufacturing facility for fire trucks.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.spartanerv.com/uploadedfiles/dealer_portal/files/sales_and_marketing/brochures/spartanerv_rescues.pdf|title=Spartan ERV Rescues|last=|first=|date=|website=Spartan ERV|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-02-03}}</ref> In 2012, Spartan Motors rebranded Crimson Fire as Spartan ERV, a joint venture with Gimaex.<ref name=":1" /> In January 2017, Spartan ERV acquired fire apparatus manufacturer Smeal Fire Apparatus, including its subsidiaries Smeal, Ladder Tower Company, and US Tanker.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=Hamilton|first=Samara|date=2016-12-13|title=Spartan Motors to Acquire Fire Apparatus Maker Smeal|work=spartanmotors.com|url=http://www.spartanmotors.com/wp-content/themes/spartanMotors/assets/pdf/press-releasesmeal.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=2018-05-16}}</ref> On February 3, 2020, Spartan Motors sold Spartan ERV division to the [[REV Group]], including Spartan Custom Cabs, Smeal Fire Apparatus, Ladder Tower Company, and US Tanker.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://spartanmotors.gcs-web.com/node/17251/pdf|title=Spartan Motors Announces Business Transformation to Focus on its Delivery and Specialty Vehicle Segments, Divests Emergency Response Business Unit.|last=Hamilton|first=Samara|date=2020-02-03|website=Spartan Motors|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-02-03}}</ref>
Spartan Emergency Response Vehicles (Spartan ERV) is a manufacturer of custom [[fire engine]]s. After several years of supplying chassis for fire trucks, Spartan acquired fire apparatus body manufacturers [[Luverne (automobile)|Luverne]] and Quality Manufacturing in the mid-1990s. Luverne used its early expertise in the automotive and heavy truck industries to begin building fire apparatus in 1912. Quality got its start six decades later, catering to the Southern firefighting market. In 2003, Luverne and Quality were consolidated under the names Crimson Fire and Crimson Fire Aerials. In 2011, Classic Fire of [[Ocala, Florida]] was acquired and became a new Crimson Fire manufacturing facility for fire trucks.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.spartanerv.com/uploadedfiles/dealer_portal/files/sales_and_marketing/brochures/spartanerv_rescues.pdf|title=Spartan ERV Rescues|website=Spartan ERV|access-date=2020-02-03}}</ref> In 2012, Spartan Motors rebranded Crimson Fire as Spartan ERV, a joint venture with Gimaex.<ref name=":1" /> In January 2017, Spartan ERV acquired fire apparatus manufacturer Smeal Fire Apparatus, including its subsidiaries Smeal, Ladder Tower Company, and US Tanker.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last=Hamilton|first=Samara|date=2016-12-13|title=Spartan Motors to Acquire Fire Apparatus Maker Smeal|work=spartanmotors.com|url=http://www.spartanmotors.com/wp-content/themes/spartanMotors/assets/pdf/press-releasesmeal.pdf|access-date=2018-05-16}}</ref> On February 3, 2020, Spartan Motors sold Spartan ERV division to the [[REV Group]], including Spartan Custom Cabs, Smeal Fire Apparatus, Ladder Tower Company, and US Tanker.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://spartanmotors.gcs-web.com/node/17251/pdf|title=Spartan Motors Announces Business Transformation to Focus on its Delivery and Specialty Vehicle Segments, Divests Emergency Response Business Unit.|last=Hamilton|first=Samara|date=2020-02-03|website=Spartan Motors|access-date=2020-02-03}}</ref>


=== Road Rescue ===
=== Road Rescue ===
Road Rescue is a manufacturer of [[ambulance]]s. It was sold in 2010 to [[Allied Specialty Vehicles]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.roadrescue.com/news.php?id=1|title=Archived copy|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130725063111/http://www.roadrescue.com/news.php?id=1|archivedate=2013-07-25|accessdate=2013-05-27}}</ref>
Road Rescue is a manufacturer of [[ambulance]]s. It was sold in 2010 to [[Allied Specialty Vehicles]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.roadrescue.com/news.php?id=1|title=NEWS|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130725063111/http://www.roadrescue.com/news.php?id=1|archive-date=2013-07-25|access-date=2013-05-27}}</ref>


=== Carpenter Industries ===
=== Carpenter Industries ===
Line 70: Line 81:


==External links==
==External links==
{{Commonscat|Spartan Motors vehicles}}
* {{Official website|https://theshyftgroup.com/}}
* {{Official website|https://theshyftgroup.com/}}
*{{Finance links
*{{Finance links
Line 81: Line 91:
}}
}}


{{Trucking industry in the United States}}
{{Central Michigan}}
{{Central Michigan}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Shyft Group, The}}
[[Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1975]]
[[Category:Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1975]]
[[Category:1975 establishments in Michigan]]
[[Category:1975 establishments in Michigan]]
[[Category:Auto parts suppliers of the United States]]
[[Category:Auto parts suppliers of the United States]]
[[Category:Companies listed on the Nasdaq]]
[[Category:Eaton County, Michigan]]
[[Category:Eaton County, Michigan]]
[[Category:Truck manufacturers of the United States]]
[[Category:Truck manufacturers of the United States]]

Latest revision as of 15:58, 19 August 2024

The Shyft Group, Inc.
FormerlySpartan Motors
Company typePublic
Nasdaq: SHYF
Russell 2000 Component
IndustryAutomotive
FoundedSeptember 18, 1975; 49 years ago (1975-09-18)
Founders
  • Charles McManamey
  • George Sztykiel
HeadquartersNovi, Michigan, U.S.
Key people
RevenueDecrease US$676.0 million (2020)
Increase US$48.85 million (2020)
Increase US$48.2 million (2020)
Total assetsDecrease US$359.05 million (2020)
Total equityIncrease US$200.33 million (2020)
Number of employees
3,000 (2021)
Websitetheshyftgroup.com
Footnotes / references
[1][2][3][4]

The Shyft Group, Inc., formerly known as Spartan Motors, is an American automobile design company that designs, engineers and manufactures specialty chassis, specialty vehicles, truck bodies and aftermarket parts for the recreational vehicle (RV), government services, and delivery and service markets. The company started in 1975 as a direct result of the bankruptcy of Diamond Reo.[5] It is currently headquartered in Novi, Michigan[1] and has 3,000 employees.[3]

History

[edit]

In 1974, Lansing-based Diamond Reo Trucks filed for bankruptcy.[6][7] The Form-Rite Corporation of Charlotte, Michigan was owed a significant sum by Diamond Reo, which had been Form-Rite's largest client; Form-Rite had supplied fiberglass parts to Reo. During the bankruptcy hearings, Form-Rite president Charles R. McManamey learned of a significant contract that Reo had just won for custom fire truck chassis. From connections made through the hearing, McManamey was able to draw together the additional talent and knowledge required to build such trucks, and founded Spartan Motors, Inc. as a wholly owned subsidiary of Form-Rite.

During the establishment of Spartan Motors, manufacturing was set up in Form-Rite's 12,000 sq ft (1,100 m2) warehouse at 426 Sumpter Rd.[8] in Charlotte. Charles McManamey was named Spartan Motors' chairman of the board.[8] Former Reo vice president of engineering and marketing George W. Sztykiel became Spartan's president.[8] Ron Partee, former Reo manager of original equipment manufacturing, stepped in as the vice president of sales.[8] Spartan's vice president of engineering was former Reo director of engineering John Knox.[8] Kenneth C. McManamey, former Form-Rite production engineer and supervisor, served as Spartan's manager of operations.[8]

Sztykiel, Partee, Knox, and Ken McManamey all donated their time to build the first chassis on speculation.[8] By January 1, 1976, the chassis was completed. Within weeks it had been sold to FMC in Tipton, Indiana[7]: 30 [5] and Spartan had 16 custom fire truck cab & chassis orders as well as an order for a one-of-a-kind 140,000 pound GVW coal carrier.[8]

In March 1976, Spartan Motors employed 12 former Reo employees,[8] including Reo's ex–quality control manager Theodore C. Huff, former staff engineer-chassis at Reo Lawrence E. Karkau, and Gerald L. Geary, who had been assistant manager of truck design at Reo. Spartan was spun-off with its own officers and directors that April.[7]: 30  Charles McManamey's sons James and Donald also worked for Spartan Motors, as well as several other part-time workers. The company quickly outgrew the Form-Rite warehouse, and within a few years construction was started for a new facility on Reynolds Road in Charlotte. The McManameys sold their stock in the company and in 1984 Spartan went public, trading on NASDAQ under the symbol “SPAR”.

Spartan Motors entered the United Kingdom transit bus market in 1995 with the unveiling of its Spartan TX low-floor single-deck bus chassis at Coach & Bus 95, held at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham, England. The Spartan TX, built with an Alusuisse-framed East Lancs Opus 2 body seating 53 passengers to a budget of £82,000 (1995) (equivalent to £154,191.82 or US$191,652.41 in 2023)[9], was designed to be durable while saving manufacturing costs, and was fitted with a rear-mounted Cummins B Series engine, an Allison transmission and an Eaton air suspension. Only two Spartan TX buses were produced, with both being delivered to Barnsley-based Yorkshire Traction by 1996.[10]

In June 2020, Spartan Motors, Inc. announced its corporate name change to The Shyft Group, Inc. following the divestiture of its Emergency Response (ER) business unit. It began trading on NASDAQ under the symbol "SHYF".[11]

In October 2020, Shyft Group acquired the aluminum truck-body manufacturer F3 MFG Inc. based in Waterville, Maine, with its brands DuraMag and Magnum.[12]

Active subsidiaries

[edit]

Spartan RV Chassis

[edit]

Spartan RV Chassis engineers, designs, manufactures, sells, and services Class A diesel RV chassis for OEMs such as Entegra Coach, Newmar, Foretravel, and Jayco.

Utilimaster

[edit]
Utilimaster delivery van

Utilimaster was acquired in November 2009. It designs, manufacturers, and assembles purpose-built delivery and other vocational trucks.[13]

Strobes-R-Us

[edit]

Strobes-R-Us was acquired on December 17, 2018. It is a distributor and installer of specialty vehicle upfits and lighting equipment.[14]

General Truck Body

[edit]

General Truck Body was acquired in June 2019 and merged with Utilimaster. It manufactures and assembles refrigerated and non-refrigerated truck bodies.[15]

Royal Truck Body

[edit]

Royal Truck Body was acquired on September 20, 2019. It manufactures van bodies and accessories.[16]

DuraMag and Magnum

[edit]

On October 1, 2020, Shyft acquired F3 MFG, an aluminum truck body and accessory manufacturer behind the DuraMag Body and Magnum Truck Rack brands. The F3 MFG name was phased out and the DuraMag and Magnum brands were nested under the Shyft Specialty Vehicles business unit.[17]

Blue Arc

[edit]

Shyft launched Blue Arc EV Solutions in March 2022 to build commercial battery electric delivery vans.[18] The Randy Marion Automotive Group placed a pre-order for the vans that September,[19] at about the same time the first prototypes were shown to the press; they are offered in lengths of 12 to 22 ft (3.7 to 6.7 m) and multiple gross vehicle weight ratings, ranging from Class 3 to 5.[20]

Former subsidiaries

[edit]

Spartan Emergency Response Vehicles

[edit]
Fire truck for Pingree Grove, Illinois, built on a Spartan Gladiator chassis

Spartan Emergency Response Vehicles (Spartan ERV) is a manufacturer of custom fire engines. After several years of supplying chassis for fire trucks, Spartan acquired fire apparatus body manufacturers Luverne and Quality Manufacturing in the mid-1990s. Luverne used its early expertise in the automotive and heavy truck industries to begin building fire apparatus in 1912. Quality got its start six decades later, catering to the Southern firefighting market. In 2003, Luverne and Quality were consolidated under the names Crimson Fire and Crimson Fire Aerials. In 2011, Classic Fire of Ocala, Florida was acquired and became a new Crimson Fire manufacturing facility for fire trucks.[21] In 2012, Spartan Motors rebranded Crimson Fire as Spartan ERV, a joint venture with Gimaex.[21] In January 2017, Spartan ERV acquired fire apparatus manufacturer Smeal Fire Apparatus, including its subsidiaries Smeal, Ladder Tower Company, and US Tanker.[22] On February 3, 2020, Spartan Motors sold Spartan ERV division to the REV Group, including Spartan Custom Cabs, Smeal Fire Apparatus, Ladder Tower Company, and US Tanker.[23]

Road Rescue

[edit]

Road Rescue is a manufacturer of ambulances. It was sold in 2010 to Allied Specialty Vehicles.[24]

Carpenter Industries

[edit]

Carpenter Industries was a manufacturer of school buses, transit buses, and step vans. Carpenter was founded in 1919; Spartan purchased it in 1998, but closed it down in 2001.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "US SEC: Form 10-K The Shyft Group". U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
  2. ^ MIGenWeb Archives" 1998 Charlotte Shopping Guide obituaries.
  3. ^ a b "The Shyft Group Careers". Retrieved February 11, 2021.
  4. ^ "US SEC: Form 8-K The Shyft Group". U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  5. ^ a b [1]" New Truck Factory Grows Out Of Diamond Reo Savvy
  6. ^ "Diamond Reo Trucks Declared Bankrupt; Trustee Is Named". The New York Times. UPI. May 31, 1975. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  7. ^ a b c Ebert, Robert R.; Falkovich, Timothy J. (Spring 2005). "Reo and Diamond Reo: The Rise and Fall of the World's Toughest Truck, Part 2" (PDF). Automotive History Review (43). The Society of Automotive Historians: 24–36. ISSN 1056-2729. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Heavy Trucks Now Made In Charlotte". Charlotte Republican-Tribune. March 18, 1976.
  9. ^ United Kingdom Gross Domestic Product deflator figures follow the MeasuringWorth "consistent series" supplied in Thomas, Ryland; Williamson, Samuel H. (2024). "What Was the U.K. GDP Then?". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
  10. ^ Morgan, Mike (20 April 1996). "Spartan by name, Spartan by nature". Coach & Bus Week. No. 214. Peterborough: Emap. pp. 28–29. Retrieved 1 June 2024.
  11. ^ "Spartan Motors Announces New Corporate Name, The Shyft Group". Retrieved 2021-01-26.
  12. ^ "Shyft Group Acquires Aluminum Truck Body Manufacturer". Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  13. ^ "Spartan Motors Announces Agreement to Acquire Utilimaster Corporation". 2009-11-09. Retrieved 2020-09-17.
  14. ^ Hamilton, Samara (2018-12-17). "Spartan Motors Acquires Strobes-R-Us". Retrieved 2019-10-29.
  15. ^ Hamilton, Samara (2019-06-13). "Spartan Motors Purchases Assets Of California-Based General Truck Body". Spartan Motors. Retrieved 2020-02-03.
  16. ^ Hamilton, Samara (2019-09-19). "Spartan Motors Acquires Royal Truck Body". Spartan Motors. Retrieved 2020-02-03.
  17. ^ Hamilton, Samara (2020-10-01). "The Shyft Group Acquires Northeast Aluminum Truck Body Manufacturer F3 MFG, Inc" (PDF). The Shyft Group. Retrieved 2020-10-01.
  18. ^ Truett, Richard (March 9, 2022). "Shyft Group to launch Blue Arc EV Solutions, delivery vans". Automotive News. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  19. ^ Lovrak, Tess (October 18, 2022). "The Shyft Group secures pre-order for all-electric delivery walk-in vans". Fleet Equipment. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  20. ^ Szczesny, Joseph (October 4, 2022). "First Look: Blue Arc's Battery-Electric Delivery Van". The Detroit Bureau. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  21. ^ a b "Spartan ERV Rescues" (PDF). Spartan ERV. Retrieved 2020-02-03.
  22. ^ Hamilton, Samara (2016-12-13). "Spartan Motors to Acquire Fire Apparatus Maker Smeal" (PDF). spartanmotors.com. Retrieved 2018-05-16.
  23. ^ Hamilton, Samara (2020-02-03). "Spartan Motors Announces Business Transformation to Focus on its Delivery and Specialty Vehicle Segments, Divests Emergency Response Business Unit". Spartan Motors. Retrieved 2020-02-03.
  24. ^ "NEWS". Archived from the original on 2013-07-25. Retrieved 2013-05-27.
[edit]
  • Official website
  • Business data for The Shyft Group:
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=The_Shyft_Group&oldid=1241146891"