Following a four-month renovation, Rainier Truck & Chassis's pilot product plant is now operational.
The 6,000 sq. ft. plant is located on 13 acres in Yakima, Washington, and will be the manufacturing and pre-assembly site for all Rainier truck models.
Parts and components are currently being ordered in preparation for a "late winter, early spring" pilot production.
"We wanted to start this late summer but had a bit more renovation work on the facilities than anticipated," Rainier President Gary Jones said.
The plant will include an assembly area for powertrains, suspensions, axles, fuel and air tanks and more.
"In the pilot production plant our trucks are built in a seven-station build process," Jones explains. "To start, each station has one to two technicians depending on what is being installed or assembled onto the chassis. In the office, there will be ... engineering, purchasing, accounting, sales folks to start. Later on, we will add [human resources staff], material control warranty folks, etc. All in all, we want to get to one truck a day as soon as possible, which will require about 25 to 30 folks."
Jones says the building will expand into a 50,000 sq. ft. facility within a couple years. Since last year, Rainier has also seen an 92 percent increase of factory-direct and online orders from dealers and consumers.
Company officials attribute the "robust sales" to consumers wanting a cabover truck with a lower acquisition cost, and that is simple to operation and maintain.
