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Manufacturing NewsTEG DailyOctober 17, 2026

October 17, 2026 · Statewide · Story 3 of 5

Winnebago Cuts 51 More Jobs in Forest City as Middlebury Consolidation Lands in Indiana

Daniel BurkePublished every day

Winnebago Industries filed a WARN notice on October 9 for 51 more layoffs at its Forest City, Iowa plant, effective November 9, bringing the plant's 2026 total to 78 cuts and following 311 layoffs tied to last year's closures in Charles City and Waverly. The company cited falling consumer demand and high dealer inventory. The cuts follow an August announcement that Winnebago is consolidating all of its towable RV production onto its Middlebury, Indiana campus while moving class B camper van production from Lake Mills to Forest City, and new U.S.-Canada tariffs on plywood, plastics, and wiring are adding to input costs on both sides of the border. Winnebago holds only 4% to 8% of the global RV market against Thor Industries' more than 40% share, so this restructuring reflects competitive weakness as much as tariff pressure. For northern Indiana, concentrating Winnebago Towables onto the Grand Design campus in Middlebury means more order flow for suppliers like Lippert Components and Patrick Industries, but it also means those suppliers now have more business riding on decisions made inside a single company's internal brand strategy.

Impact
Winnebago holds just 4-8% of the global RV market against Thor Industries' 40%+ share and Forest River's Berkshire-backed scale, meaning its restructuring reflects competitive weakness as much as tariff pressure -- its FY2026 guidance was already cut roughly 25% at the midpoint before the late-August Canada tariff escalation fully hit input costs. For Indiana specifically, consolidating Winnebago Towables onto the Grand Design campus in Middlebury -- while keeping the two as separate brands with separate dealer networks -- concentrates order flow to northern Indiana suppliers like Lippert Components and Patrick Industries, but also creates channel-conflict risk if dealers start cross-shopping both lines off the same lot.
Watch
Winnebago's Q4 earnings call on October 21, which should clarify whether the North American wholesale shipment forecast (already cut from 330,000 to 300,000 units) continues falling.
For the huddle

If Winnebago Towables and Grand Design RV are sharing one Middlebury campus as separate brands, are our own supplier contracts with Lippert, Patrick Industries, or similar northern Indiana vendors exposed to a single customer's internal brand conflict?

Review your supplier list for any vendor, such as Lippert Components or Patrick Industries, whose northern Indiana capacity is now tied to one customer's internal brand strategy, and confirm you have a backup source if that customer's production plans change.

Sources

  1. More layoffs hit iconic Iowa manufacturer amid restructuring, tariffs · desmoinesregister.com

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  3. Winnebago Cuts 51 More Jobs in Forest City as Middlebury Consolidation Lands in Indiana
  4. EPA Rolls Back Power Plant Rules While NIPSCO and CenterPoint Keep Coal Running Past Retirement
  5. Indiana American Water Finishes $24.5 Million Gary Main Overhaul

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