Bolt Custom Trucks & Manufacturing Locating in South Whitley

TEK Coat and Spray, LLC (TEK) and Service Star Trucks (SST), affiliates of Bolt Custom Trucks and Manufacturing (Bolt), recently announced plans to locate in the former Dwyer Instruments building at 367 W 1st Street in South Whitley.

Bolt designs and manufactures premium custom sleepers for over-the-road (OTR) expedite trucks and tractor trailer cabs. The company offers a wide array of services from cutting-edge engineering and design, manufacturing, service and repairs, and custom painting.

TEK will provide coating and painting services to local customers, along with painting SST and Bolt manufactured products. Powder Coating and wet painting will be the company’s main areas of focus. Initially, the company will relocate current employees to the facility, but plans to eventually employ up to 35 individuals at the new South Whitley facility.

“We were pleased to find a place strategically located between our two facilities in Akron and Fort Wayne,” said Andy Martin, general manager of the new facility. “We look forward to working closely with the Town and the local school system as we prepare to grow our business in South Whitley.  It’s been exciting to interact with the team at the Whitley County Economic Development Corporation (EDC). The EDC is very motivated to grow the economy in Whitley County.”

Service Star Truck (SST) is a premier manufacturer of standard and custom engineered field service truck equipment. SST specializes in designing and manufacturing a complete line of heavy-duty mechanic trucks, service trucks, hydraulic cranes, utility trucks, fuel/lube trucks, lube trucks, enclosed lube trucks, fuel/lube trailers, lube trailers, fuel/lube skids and lube skids.

Bolt started out as Bentz Transport Products, a manufacturer of after-market sleeper cabs and stainless accessories for medium and heavy-duty trucks, back in 1993. Under new ownership, the company later became “Bolt Custom Trucks and Manufacturing,” and expanded its offerings to custom engineered and manufactured truck sleepers and cab modifications.

“First and foremost, I am happy to see activity returning to the Dwyer Building. Secondly, I am pleased at the skilled jobs that TEK and SST are planning to bring to the community and their desire to work closely with the Whitko School System,” said Jon Myers, president of the Whitley County EDC.

The South Whitley Town Council approved a ten-year tax abatement on real estate improvements and new equipment, at the request of Bolt and the Whitley County EDC.

“We are pleased to support Bolt, and we are grateful for their investment in South Whitley. There are numerous positives coming out of this project–the Dwyer Building will be put to good use, skilled jobs will be created, as well as new partnerships in the community,” said South Whitley Town Council President Randy Cokl.