SmithCo adds director of manufacturing

Le Mars, Iowa-based SmithCo Mfg. Inc., a maker of side dump trailers for the aggregates and waste industries, design and manufacturing, has named Scott Heemstra as its new director of manufacturing. He replaces David Jacobs, who has retired from SmithCo.

Heemstra brings more than 30 years of experience in operations and manufacturing to his new role, says SmithCo. In his new position, he will lead production activities and oversee trailer manufacturing, with a focus on building custom, high-quality side dump trailer products.

“Scott is a long-time northwest Iowa resident who is ‘coming home,’” says Scott Lovell, president and CEO of SmithCo. “He brings a wealth of experience, knowledge and abilities that will help push toward our future goals.”

Continues Lovell, “Scott’s proven track record of employee and team development is something that really caught the attention of our search committee. Scott will be a tremendous asset as SmithCo continues to grow and lead the side dump trailer industry.”

Heemstra previously held operations-related roles with Iowa-based paint manufacturer Diamond Vogel and Kansas-based industrial fasteners and lifting hardware manufacturer Huyett.

“I am thrilled to join SmithCo and contribute to the continued growth and success,” says Heemstra. “I am eager to leverage my experience in quality and operations excellence to fulfill SmithCo’s plans for team development, double-digit growth and major capital investments. I look forward to working with the teams to create sustainable and long-lasting solutions and provide premium value to our customers.”

Heemstra’s predecessor David Jacobs started working at SmithCo in 2021 and helped further improve SmithCo’s manufacturing process and develop the skillset of its frontline supervisors, says the firm.

“It has been great to be a part of the SmithCo team and contribute to what makes us the side dump market leader,” says Jacobs. “I look forward to watching the company’s continued growth and look forward to hearing about our future accomplishments.” 

“For the past three-and-a-half years, David Jacobs has been a tremendous asset to SmithCo,” says Lovell. “He has invested a large amount of time and effort into helping us mold this company into who we want to be, both as a manufacturer and, more importantly, as an employer. He is extremely well respected throughout the company and we are going to miss him.”