— Daily Freeman-Journal photos by Anne Blankenship A forklift operator prepares to move materials to the tire assembly area at the new Webster City Tex Trail Trailer Parts plant. Located in the former Beam Industries plant, the business will create tire and wheel assemblies.

A new Webster City business is getting ready to ramp up production in the former Beam Industries building and plans to bring on about 35 employees when fully operational.

Tex Trail Trailer Parts has opened recently and will produce tire and wheel assemblies.

“We’re just getting ready to start production,” said Randy Dahlhauser, plant manager, Currently the plant has eight employees including himself and office manager Dawn Scott. He said the company will increase the number of employees over the next four to six months.

“We’ll probably do about 1,000 assemblies a day to start with,” he said.

The tire assemblies will then go to trailer manufacturers or to Tex Trail distribution centers around the country. The firm has about 300 stores nationwide. Dahlhauser said the Webster City site will also have retail outlet, probably after the first of the year, and will feature trailers and parts.

The large warehouse and plant, at over 100,000 square feet, will allow for production space as well as wheel and tire storage, and the retail space.

ATW, based in Texas, is the parent company of Tex Trail, according to Dahlhauser.

He said the Webster City’s central location and available workforce played a big role in the selection of the site.

“And as a regional distribution center, we can supply the northern corridor from this location,” Dahlhauser said.

He said he expected the plant to at full production by mid-November.

Dahlhauser said an open house is planned for Friday, Nov. 16 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with a ribbon cutting at 11 a.m.