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Winnebago Industries, Inc.
headquartered in Forest City, Iowa, is a leading United States manufacturer of recreation vehicles, which are used primarily in leisure travel and outdoor recreation activities. The Company builds quality motor homes, travel trailers and fifth wheel products under the Winnebago, Itasca, ERA and SunnyBrook brand names. The Company markets its recreation vehicles on a wholesale basis to a diversified dealer organization located throughout the U.S., and Canada. As of August 29, 2010, the motor home and towable dealer organization in the U.S. and Canada included approximately 230 and 179 dealer locations respectively. Other products manufactured by the Company consist primarily of original equipment manufacturing (OEM) parts, including extruded aluminum and other component products for other manufacturers and commercial vehicles.
Winnebago Industries was incorporated under the laws of the state of Iowa on February 12, 1958, and adopted its present name on February 28, 1961.
The Itasca lineup was created to blend form and function into a motor home experience like no other. This idea encompasses everything from nimble, affordable Class C motor homes to luxurious Class A coaches that are a sight to behold. The SmartSpace philosophy of using innovative features to make the most of the available space is a cornerstone of the Itasca brand. You will enjoy a lifetime of fun in your Itasca motor home, thanks to the renowned construction quality of Winnebago Industries.
In the mid-1950s Forest City, Iowa, was looking at a bleak future. The farm economy was down and young people were leaving this rural area. Forward-looking members of the community set about bringing industry to town.
In 1958, businessman John K. Hanson and others convinced a California company to open a travel trailer factory in Forest City.
After a rough start, the operation was purchased by five Forest City residents and John K. Hanson became president. In 1960 the name of the company was changed to Winnebago Industries.
To improve quality, Winnebago Industries manufactured furniture and other components designed specifically for its travel trailers.
In 1963 a wall construction process called Thermo-Panel® was developed. It provides a strong, yet lightweight and well insulated sidewall. Innovations such as these resulted in a dramatic increase in the company’s sales.
In 1966 the first motor home rolled off the Winnebago Industries assembly lines. Through use of the assembly line and other manufacturing innovations in the motor home industry, Winnebago Industries could produce a motor home that sold for half the price of competitors’ models.
Growth Continues
In 1970 Winnebago Industries moved to a new and expanded manufacturing facility. In 1970 the company also was listed on the New York Stock exchange and in 1971 the stock appreciated 462 percent - more than any other company on the exchange.
The Itasca line was introduced in 1975 and in 1977 Winnebago Industries built its 100,000th unit - the first RV manufacturer to reach that production level.
The company continued to grow in the 1980s. Sales for the fiscal year ending on August 25, 1984, totaled $411 million - the first time the company’s sales topped $400 million.
1986 was a year of more firsts for Winnebago Industries. The company celebrated 20 years of motor home production - the first RV manufacturer to reach that milestone. In 1986 the company also was the first to produce 200,000 motor homes.
In addition, 1986 marked the appearance of Winnebago Industries on the Fortune 500 list of corporations. Winnebago Industries ranked 340 in net income as a percentage of stockholder equity and made the Top Ten in innovation.
During 1989 a state-of-the-art testing facility was completed.
Fiscal 2004 was a banner year for the company with record revenues of $1.1 billion and motor home production of approximately 12,500 units as the U.S. economy peaked with low interest rates and high consumer confidence levels.
In 2008, as the company celebrated its 50th anniversary, Winnebago Industries reached another milestone with the production of the 400,000th unit. The ERA Class B motor home was also introduced in 2008, providing Winnebago Industries with a third motor home brand.
According to Statistical Surveys, Inc., the retail reporting service for the RV industry, Winnebago Industries has held the position of the number one manufacturer of Class A and C motor homes combined since 2001.Â
Winnebago Industries entered a new chapter when the company purchased SunnyBrook RV in December 2010, re-entering the towable manufacturing market for the first time since 1983.  Â
Changes - But Quality Remains
Much has changed since the first recreational vehicles were produced in the American heartland of Forest City, Iowa, by Winnebago Industries more than 50 years ago. But much also remains the same.
The Winnebago Industries commitment to providing high quality, great value, efficient design and eye-catching style in recreation vehicles remains a driving force for the company.
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