BORN AGAIN

Eagle Cap Campers workers build units on Smith Loop at the airport industrial park. (The Observer/CHRIS BAXTER).

- Bill Rautenstrauch

The Observer

A Union County camper manufacturer counted dead and gone in 2005 is back on track, providing jobs for about 70 people and eyeing a major expansion this year.

Executives at Eagle Cap Campers say they look forward to a bright future for the plant, situated in Smith Loop in the airport industrial park.

"We're happy with what we're doing," said Sales Manager Chris Haefer. "We're building the best camper out there. Everybody tells us how pleased they are with the product."

Back in 2005, the company did business as Intermountain RV. It went bankrupt, and, according to Haefer, left a lot of unhappy campers behind.

The disgruntled included dealers, customers and plant employees, Haefer said.

Haefer, Mony K. Pen, Russ Reid, Dan Johnson and Ron Smith and Bobbie Medellin were among the workers who went looking elsewhere for jobs. Some thought they were through with the recreational vehicle industry for good.

"We went on to new jobs and endeavors. We had to figure out another way to live," Haefer said.

But then, things changed for the better.

In early 2006, Chris Epp, owner of Canada-based Western Leisure Homes, bought Intermountain RV and set about building a new division for his holdings.

He brought Pen back as general manager of the Union County facility. Pen, in turn, began reassembling the workforce from the top down.

Haefer signed on as sales manager, Reid as service and warranty manager, Johnson as floor supervisor, Smith as production manager, and Medellin as quality assurance manager.

Pen said he considers Medellin's job one of the most important in the whole plant.

"It can be stressful for her, but we depend on her," he said. "She keeps us from having warranty issues."

As for the rank and file, newly-named Eagle Cap campers started out with 50 workers — many of them former Intermountain RV employees.

"About 70 percent of the people we have now are from the old company. The rest we've hired and trained," said Pen.

The front office found itself faced with numerous challenges in the beginning. According to Haefer, people worked hard to overcome a poor image.

"Our dealer network had taken a big beating. In order to get our sales and service up, we had to get customers to trust us again. We jumped through a lot of hoops," he said.

Dealers complained about being stuck with a product for which they could not get service or parts. In the beginning, Reid handled dozens of irate calls. He said he went out of his way to work out happy solutions.

"We gave a discount on labor and parts, even on the older campers," he said.

Also under the heading of public relations, the company teamed with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Ducks Unlimited, building a special edition model for both and donating a portion of sales.

"We have a three-year commitment with both organizations," Haefer said.

The company manufactures eight different models, all featuring aluminum welded frames and seamless fiberglass bodies. Every model can be outfitted with a slide-out.

Production is lively, with three campers, built from the ground up by local labor, rolling out the doors every work day.

If there's a drawback, it's that the plant is no longer big enough to accommodate the warehouse and fiberglass department. One of the company's two buildings is about to get bigger, said Haefer.

"We take pride in our fiberglass work, but because of the limited space, there's only so much we can do. We've got to expand," he said.

Pen said the 20,000-square-foot building will grow to 46,000 square feet, with the work done by local contractors.

"We can't go any bigger than that because there isn't room enough on the property," he said. "If the markets get stronger we'll be looking for someplace bigger."

He added that the expansion will allow for the hiring of 10-12 workers in the first two years.

Though it's taken some time, Eagle Cap executives believe their ship has begun to right itself. According to Haefer, local drivers are delivering campers to 40 dealers in the United States and Canada.

Johnson, who as floor supervisor oversees the nut-and-bolts of the operation, believes quality will keep his company thriving.

"We're keeping the people who buy them and live in them uppermost in our mind," he said.

Haefer added that he expects the recreational vehicle industry to continue healthy overall.

"The industry is growing. Everybody you talk to will tell you that," he said.