Equity group American Industrial Partners has bought Heil Trailer International from Dover Corp.


Heil Trailer was founded in Wisconsin in 1901. Headquartered in Athens, Tenn., it makes liquid, dry-bulk and specialty trailers. It has three manufacturing facilities located in North America and facilities in Thailand and Argentina.

Randall Swift has been named CEO. Prior to joining Heil, he was CEO of Allied Specialty Vehicles Inc., which makes specialty vehicles such as ambulances, terminal trucks, fire trucks and school buses. ASV is also owned by American Industrial Partners.

In addition, Bob Foster has re-joined Heil Trailer as its chairman of the board. Foster was President of Heil Trailer for 15 years prior to his retirement in 2006, where he successfully led a number of growth initiatives which more than doubled the size of Heil Trailer and globally diversified the company.

"I look forward to continuing to focus the company on the fundamental elements of what built Heil Trailer into the business it is today - taking care of our customers and manufacturing the highest quality products in the industry," said Bob Foster. "I am very pleased to be once again part of an independent Heil Trailer."