A wide-open labor market in Mexico, Mo., and a strong demand for Duracraft's V-Hull boats in the Midwest led Bentley Industries to open an 80,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in Mexico. The plant, the company's third one in Mexico, is expected to open in April.
Bentley, parent company of Bentley Pontoons, will build Duracraft pontoon boats and the Duracraft aluminum line of bass and bay boats. Duracraft is a solely owned subsidiary of Bentley Industries. The new plant will also enhance the company's distribution to the Midwest.
Company officials do not yet know how many jobs will be created, and financial incentives from Mexico are not yet known.
Steve Deese, chairman of the board, suffered a stroke in July 2005, which stopped the company's plans to expand. He has fully recovered and is aggressively trying to buy other aluminum and pontoon companies, according to the company. Bentley said it has become the fourth-largest pontoon builder in the United States. 