Warn Industries Acquires Fabtech Industries, Inc.

Dave

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Clackamas, OR (June 1, 2021) – Warn Industries today announced the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Fabtech Industries, Inc., a leading manufacturer of aftermarket suspensions for light trucks, Jeeps, and SUVs.

Fabtech’s product offerings include suspension systems, shocks, and leveling kits. The company was founded in 1989 as a custom fabrication firm specializing in racing suspension systems and Prerunner builds, cages, bumpers, and other products. Today, the company has over 2,000 SKUs in their portfolio and the Fabtech brands, which include Dirt Logic and Stealth Shocks, are recognized as premium offerings in the off-road and performance segments.

Kyle Shiminski, Vice President & General Manager of Warn Industries, stated, “With strong brands and complementary categories to Warn’s truck, off-road, and overlanding segments, this partnership provides an opportunity to combine the premium brands of WARN, Factor 55 and Fabtech into a more all-encompassing solution for end-customers.” Shiminski added, “We have admired the Fabtech brand heritage and made in the USA mindset and are extremely excited to be able to align together. We look forward to working closely with the entire Fabtech team, and continuing their history of premium, innovative products while adding another premium brand to the Warn family.” Fabtech will operate as a division of Warn Industries.

Fabtech’s products are designed, tested, and manufactured in the United States, and utilize proprietary technology to fully integrate vehicles’ electronics and sensors with their systems.

Dave Winner, Founder and CEO of Fabtech Industries, Inc. commented, “We are excited to be part of the Warn Industries family, joining a company with highly-recognized, premium brands and a storied history. We are proud of what we have accomplished over our 30-plus year history, and we look forward to continuing our traditions, now as part of Warn and as such, being able to leverage resources available as part of a larger entity. We will continue to focus on developing innovative solutions for the off-road segment.” Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

About Fabtech Industries

Fabtech Industries (www.fabtechmotorsports.com) is a leading manufacturer of aftermarket suspensions for light trucks and SUVs. The Fabtech product offering includes suspension systems, shocks, and leveling kits. Fabtech brands, which include Dirt Logic and Stealth Shocks, are recognized as premium offerings in the off-road racing and performance segments. Fabtech’s products are designed, tested, and manufactured in the United States, and utilize proprietary technology to fully integrate vehicle’s electronics and sensors with their systems. Fabtech is headquartered in Chino, CA.

About Warn Industries

WARN (www.warn.com) is the world’s most recognized brand in off-road products such as hub locks and vehicle recovery winches. Warn Industries designs, manufactures and markets a full line of off-road equipment and accessories that enhance the performance of four-wheel-drive and powersports vehicles. Warn Industries is headquartered near Portland, OR.

Warn Industries also includes Factor 55 (www.factor55.com), a manufacturer of highly-engineered rigging hardware for CLOSED SYSTEM WINCHING™, a technique that uses rigging comprised entirely of closed link hardware to provide an additional layer of safety when operating a winch. The Factor 55 product offering includes: winch line and splice-on shackles, fairleads, pulleys, vehicle recovery kits and bags, recovery straps, rope, and other specialty products. Factor 55 is headquartered in Boise, Idaho, and their products are designed and manufactured in Idaho.

https://www.warn.com/press-releases...rxQouLtrezJ5rpFBLrQziQd4df72pp-adNd3NGGzUJW5E
 
This is a strange move for them, but seems like every venture capital firm is looking to gobble up who they can where they can right now. The company that owns Warn has their fingers in a lot of other companies besides just Factor55 and now Fabtech.
 
This won't be good for the "overlanding" industry long term. Venture capitalists focus on short to intermediate term profits and are typically unwilling to take losses now for long term growth. Once "overlanding" peaks (and it will) look for these guys to cut their losses, leaving what's left of those companies with little capital to continue. The people who originally started these companies have a very different focus.
 
Warn and Factor 55 make sense, Fabtech though I don't know? Quick glance at the website looks to be a lot of DB 'lift kits" perhaps they have huge margins?
 
Warn and Factor 55 make sense, Fabtech though I don't know? Quick glance at the website looks to be a lot of DB 'lift kits" perhaps they have huge margins?

Back in the day, Fabtech was big with the Toyota guys who loved 6 inch drop bracket kits and such. I was never a fan. I have no idea what they’re producing now.
 
I don't think Fabtech really matters in the "overland" segment. They specialize more in big truck lifts, although I think they still over some Jeep and 'yota kits. IMO, their bread and butter is the larger F-series and Ram type trucks. 6" and 37's for pavement princesses. Which ties in with some of Warn's moves with fullsize truck bumpers. But when talking "overland" or "expedition" travel, I don't think Fabtech ever enters the conversation.
 
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