Hino Trucks and Fontaine Modification Co. announced Monday, Sept. 21, that Fontaine will open a dedicated modification center in Williamstown, W.Va., to support Hino’s West Virginia-based truck assembly plant.
“Having Fontaine as an extension of our assembly plant in West Virginia affords us the ability to offer many more options seamlessly to our dealers and customers,” says Bob Petz, vice president of logistics operations for Hino Trucks. “Fontaine Modification has been a great partner to Hino Trucks over the last four years, and we look forward to growing our business mutually through Fontaine’s commitment to supporting our plant in West Virginia with a dedicated facility.”
The Williamstown modification center will continue to provide Hino Trucks with all current production options, including extended cab, 338 City Tractor, Dual Steer Sit-down and Dual Steer Right Hand Stand up packages. Additionally, Hino Trucks is looking to expand its product offering with the assistance of Fontaine Modification by offering additional paint options, bus chassis, RV chassis and fire-rescue chassis packages.
“We see this partnership as a strategic approach to bringing the Hino truck to many of our target markets in a fairly quick manner, while maintaining our high level of quality,” says Glenn Ellis, vice president of marketing and dealer operations for Hino.
The new modification center is located across the street from Hino’s assembly plant, enabling the seamless integration of modifications into the truck production and delivery process. Fontaine plans to begin transitioning all Hino work from its center in Springfield, Ohio, to Williamstown in November.
“Our new center will be custom-built to meet all of Hino’s modification needs, as well as to provide the exceptionally high level of product quality that Hino customers expect in every truck they buy,” says Mark Hampshire, Western Region vice president and general manager for Fontaine Modification.
“Hino Trucks is a growing presence in the medium-duty truck market, and we are very happy to strengthen this relationship,” says Will Trantham, Fontaine Modification president. “We look forward to using our experience and expertise to help Hino Trucks continue to expand into new markets.”
