Crenlo Expansion in Watertown Brings New Jobs, Major Investment and Governor’s Tour
Northeast Radio SD News – Watertown, SD - Leadership from Crenlo Engineered Cabs spent Monday highlighting the company’s growing footprint in Watertown — first during a facility tour with Gov. Larry Rhoden and First Lady Sandy Rhoden, and later at the Watertown City Council meeting, where executives outlined expansion plans, workforce needs, and a desire for deeper partnership with the city.
Governor’s Tour: Multi‑Year Growth Ahead for Watertown Plant
During a morning tour of the Crenlo facility, company leaders told Gov. Rhoden the Watertown plant is entering a “strategically important point in time” as it prepares for several years of sustained growth driven by new manufacturing contracts.
Investor Adam Lerner said major original equipment manufacturers have selected Crenlo’s Watertown operation for new platform awards, citing the plant’s efficiency, quality, and workforce.
CFO Craig Potter said the facility is projected to grow 16% this year, with even larger increases expected in the coming years. The company currently has 24 open positions and anticipates needing 30–40 additional employees in 2027.
Two major new product lines are launching in Watertown:
· Wacker Neuson skid‑steer loader cabs — 600 units projected this year, with peak volumes up to 5,000 annually.
· Orange OEV terminal tractor cabs — 200 units projected this year, with updated forecasts suggesting up to 1,400 units next year.
To support the expansion, Crenlo recently added 21,000 square feet to its W‑2 building and installed a 12‑kilowatt Trumpf laser, part of what leaders described as a $5 million‑plus investment in fabrication capabilities.
Company officials also emphasized partnerships with Lake Area Technical College and Hayti High School, both of which receive scrap steel for welding instruction. Several instructors previously worked at the Watertown plant.
Gov. Rhoden praised the company’s commitment to skilled trades and reiterated the state’s focus on reducing barriers for employers.
City Council Appearance: Crenlo Introduced as First in New Business‑Leader Series
That evening, Crenlo’s leadership team appeared before the Watertown City Council as part of a new initiative launched by City Manager Alan Stager to strengthen relationships between the city and major employers.
Stager said many of Watertown’s largest businesses are no longer locally owned, making it important for city leaders to understand who is investing in the community and how those employers view Watertown’s workforce and future.
He introduced:
· Adam Lerner – Operating Partner, Angeles Private Equity
· Craig Potter – Chief Financial Officer
· Jesse Spurgin – Plant Director
· Katie Larson – Vice President of Human Resources
Stager noted Crenlo’s long history in Watertown, beginning in the mid‑1990s as Angus Palm Industries before later ownership transitions. Today, the company is owned by Angeles Private Equity.
Crenlo Leaders: Watertown Workforce Is the Reason for Expansion
HR Vice President Katie Larson told the council she visits Watertown frequently and consistently sees a “palpable feeling of positive culture” inside the plant.
Larson said Crenlo has over 24 openings for welders, material handlers, assemblers, and painters — and that the company’s decision to launch new product lines in Watertown is “strictly because of the quality of the people.”
She said Crenlo wants to partner with the city on workforce housing and child‑care solutions, especially as the company hopes to eventually add a second shift.
Plant Director Jesse Spurgin said staffing needs are expected to “double and probably triple by 2028,” driven by new manufacturing programs and increased production volumes.
CFO Craig Potter reiterated that Crenlo has invested more than $5 million into the Watertown plant and believes the facility could “double” its business in the coming years.
“Our customers have choices,” Potter said. “They choose to be here. They like what they see. They like the facility. They like the people.”
City Leaders Praise Crenlo’s Commitment
City Manager Stager said private‑equity investment in Watertown is a sign of the community’s strength as a regional manufacturing hub.
Mayor Ried Holien and council members thanked Crenlo’s leadership for their commitment to Watertown. Councilman Lynn Jurrens noted the company’s long history in the cab‑manufacturing industry and its legacy of employees who built careers there and remained part of the community.
A Unified Message: Watertown’s Workforce Is Key to Future Growth
Across both the governor’s tour and the city council meeting, Crenlo’s leadership emphasized the same message: Watertown’s workforce is the reason the company continues to invest, expand, and launch new product lines in the community.
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