Manac buys Fabrex division from RailAmerica for $9 million

BOUCHERVILLE, Que. (Dec. 29, 2000) — Manac, the largest manufacturer of semitrailers in Canada, confirmed that it will buy the Fabrex trailer division of RailAmerica for $9 million.

Fabrex, formerly Kalyn/Siebert Canada/Fabrex, produces aluminum dump trailers at a 100,000-square-foot plant in Trois-Rivieres, Que. Manac president Gaston Bureau said the plant would be used to build an aluminum flatdeck trailer introduced earlier this year in addition to the Fabrex line of vehicles.

Bureau anticipates production to reach 500 units during the first year following the acquisition.

RailAmerica, which acquired Fabrex in 1998, said it would use the proceeds of the sale to pay down debt associated with its purchase of RailTex, a large short-line rail operator, in February. RailAmerica, based in Boca Raton, Fla., is the world’s largest short-line railroad company.