Wabash Expands EcoNex Production with $20M Investment

Wabash announced it is expanding manufacturing capacity of EcoNex Technology to address customer demand and equipment challenges, including thermal efficiency, strength, weight, and asset life.

As part of this expansion, Wabash is investing an additional $20 million at its 53-acre facility in Little Falls, Minnesota, and adding over 200 jobs by the end of 2023.

EcoNex Technology is Wabash’s proprietary, next-generation molded structural composite that utilizes environmentally conscious materials aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and dependency on non-renewable energy.

A refrigerated trailer with EcoNex Technology is estimated to save up to 13.5 metric tons of CO2e per year compared to Wabash’s former ArcticLite refrigerated trailer made with conventional materials.

“Although Wabash developed EcoNex with trailers in mind, its scalability across our portfolio is substantial,” said Brent Yeagy, president/CEO. “At the end of 2021, we announcedthe launch of our refrigerated home delivery vehicle, and our initial backlog of $10 million for these new vehicles doubled in the following 90 days.”

EcoNex Technology boasts greater thermal capability while being lighter weight, and Wabash believes this technology substantially reduces corrosion and extends asset life. This is a sustainability advantage that is additive to customers’ environmental objectives.

“Whether we are transporting frozen vegetables in the heat of summer or fresh fruit in the cold of winter, EcoNex Technology assures the temperatures inside the trailers are consistent,” said Ken Johnson, CEO at Leonard’s Express, Inc.