Fishing Holdings today announced it will significantly expand its boat-manufacturing facility in Flippin, Ark.
Fishing Holdings is a subsidiary of Platinum Equity, which acquired the Ranger, Stratos and Champion brands in the Genmar bankruptcy, then later acquired Triton from Brunswick Corp.
The acquisition of Triton united the No. 1 and No. 2 boat brands under a single roof.
After the integration of Stratos manufacturing at Flippin, Fishing Holdings began the transfer of Triton production from Ashland City, Tenn. to Arkansas. The Champion brand was rolled into the Stratos brand.
Fishing Holdings will invest $13 million to retool, transition and expand its Flippin facilities, which it said will create more than 115 new jobs. The additional jobs will increase total employment at the manufacturing facility to approximately 540 people.
The announcement did not state whether former workers would be transferred from the shuttered Ashland City plant.
Fishing Holdings president Randy Hopper announced the news and said: "We're very fortunate to have a world-class manufacturing facility that's home to such wonderful employees and some of the industry's strongest brands. The progress we've made recently wouldn't have been possible without the support of (Arkansas) Governor Mike Beebe and the state's Economic Development Commission. It's a partnership we're very proud of and look forward to being able to serve our community and the Natural State in an even greater capacity."
Gov. Beebe stated: "Ranger Boats is an Arkansas institution and a brand respected worldwide. We're excited to see the company's continued growth and thank Ranger for this show of confidence in North Arkansas and its people."
