SARTELL -- This week in our "Behind the Scenes" series on WJON, we tour part of the former Verso Paper Mill that is now home to Edmonton Trailers.

Based out of Canada Edmonton Trailers now occupies the former mill building to continue manufacturing heavy haul trailers.

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General Manager Dirk Woestenenk says many manufacturing companies only offer what they have in stock, but they pride themselves on making trailers to fit the customers needs.

"There is lots of manufactures that say here is what we have do you want it or not, where we're going to ask what do you want and provide you with that product," says Woestenenk.

He says the company makes each trailer from scratch which can take about six weeks to build.

"From the time the steel comes in the door, to when it goes out the door for paint then you need another week to put the finishing details on it," says Woestenenk.

Once the steel arrives welders begin the make the individual pieces into specific parts of the trailer.

"The parts come in on a pallet then we build a bigger piece to go into another piece to build the complete unit," says Woestenenk.

The pieces are then assembled into the actual trailer before it's sent away to be painted.

When the trailer returns from painting the finishing touches are put on to complete the trailer.

"Then we put all the air, electrical and wiring into it and when those are done they will move on to the one next to it," says Woestenenk.

Woestenenk says the plant has about 15 employees learning their standards and once they get familiar with the work the company will look to hire as early as this summer and grow in the next few years.

Welder continues work on finishing up a trailer. (Photo: Alex Svejkovsky, WJON News)
Welder continues work on finishing up a trailer. (Photo: Alex Svejkovsky, WJON News)
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