South Bend plant production

[k2wilson 41]

Does anybody know when the last Wheel Horse (Toro) tractor was built in the South Bend plant?   Anybody know what model it was?

[varosd 1,185]

http://www.wheelhorseforum.com/files/file/4-wheel-horse-final-part-1/

http://www.wheelhorseforum.com/files/file/5-wheel-horse-final-part-2/

 

[evanloock 263]

Those were made in the Minnesota plant.  Production was moved there from South Bend sometime in the 90's and the South Bend plant closed.

[Norman D 78]

South Bend Plant

Toro had purchased the Wheel Horse brand and its South Bend operations in 1986 for $8 million

In 1991, The Toro Company received consideration and approval for local economic development tax incentives (commonly structured as real and personal property tax abatements) from the City of South Bend for its manufacturing facility located at 515 W. Ireland Road.

1991 marked the major operational transition where Toro fully integrated the Wheel Horse facility and dealer networks. Approximately 235 jobs were affected by restructuring and transitions at the South Bend manufacturing site.

Late 1992 / 1993 Toro announced plans to phase out and ultimately close the South Bend manufacturing plant, impacting approximately 300 remaining employees.

in 1993, The Toro Company closed its historic 226,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in South Bend, Indiana, as part of a company-wide consolidation and restructuring. The South Bend plant had previously produced Wheel Horse lawn and garden tractors. This shutdown resulted in local layoffs and an end to active manufacturing at the South Bend plant

 

PUBLISHED: January 12, 1993 

          “Toro tax breaks withdrawn: South Bend common council voted unanimously to take away two tax abatements granted to the Toro Company in 1991, when the lawnmower maker announced plans to upgrade its plant. The council in Apr had given 6- and 10-year abatements for the Wheelhorse factory, which employees 300 workers. However the company subsequently decided to close the factory”