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Made in Iowa, The Manufacturing Podcast

Made in Iowa, The Manufacturing Podcast

E47 | Aluma’s Next Chapter: Growth, Succession and Staying in Iowa | Made In Iowa

Oct 15, 2026 · 57 min · 14 segments

Aluma began in 1992 with a simple idea for a lightweight golf cart trailer. Today, the Bancroft company produces over 100 different aluminum trailer models for customers across North America. In this…

Aluma began in 1992 with a simple idea for a lightweight golf cart trailer. Today, the Bancroft company produces over 100 different aluminum trailer models for customers across North America. In this episode of Made in Iowa, host Leisa Fox talks with longtime CEO Mike Lloyd about the product decisions, people and manufacturing discipline behind that growth, and the ownership transition now shaping Aluma’s next chapter. Lloyd explains why aluminum became the company’s advantage, how Aluma continued expanding its product line, and what automation can and cannot solve in a rural manufacturing operation. He also addresses recent headwinds, including flat sales, volatile metal costs and tariffs, and the constant challenge of building and retaining a skilled workforce in northwest Iowa. The conversation turns personal as Lloyd discusses the decision he and his siblings made to sell the family business to Novae. He retained an ownership stake and plans to continue leading during the transition. It is a candid look at succession, timing and the responsibility to protect the employees, dealers, quality and community identity that made Aluma valuable in the first place. Presenting sponsor: ⁨Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield https://www.wellmark.com/Made-in-Iowa

Aluma began in 1992 with a simple idea for a lightweight golf cart trailer. Today, the Bancroft company produces over 100 different aluminum trailer models for customers across North America. In this…

Spotify Website

Speakers: Mike LloydGuestLeisa FoxHost

Top entities: Google Chrome×20 Wellmark×20 Iowa×15 Gemini×13 Bancroft×7

Show signals: SuitabilitySafeBiasNot political

COVID Demand, Aluminum, and Innovation14:17 – 28:20

M

Mike LloydGuest

14:17

So.

L

14:19

the COVID mess was not kind to many industries.

L

14:27

You were one of those industries that saw an uptick in COVID because more people were enjoying recreation.

L

14:37

They had more time to do it.

L

14:39

And so you had a spike.

M

Mike LloydGuest

14:41

Yeah, we did.

M

Mike LloydGuest

14:42

So right away when COVID hit, um, at that point, our industry was down a little bit.

M

Mike LloydGuest

14:50

So we weren't ramped up to the extent that we probably should

L

14:53

have.

L

14:54

You probably didn't see it coming.

L

14:55

No one

M

Mike LloydGuest

14:56

did.

M

Mike LloydGuest

14:56

Absolutely not.

M

Mike LloydGuest

14:57

And no, we were, we were freaking out just like everybody else, right.

M

Mike LloydGuest

15:02

But within probably three or four weeks, the phone started ringing.

M

Mike LloydGuest

15:08

And we were pleasantly surprised that we got some business.

M

Mike LloydGuest

15:15

And then within two or three months, it was just Katie bar the door, right.

M

Mike LloydGuest

15:22

So eventually, it probably turned into more of a concern, especially on my end, because, you know, our lead times, typically are five to six weeks that a that a dealer could get a trailer from us.

M

Mike LloydGuest

15:39

But During COVID, probably at the end of 2000, our lead time was nine months to 12 months out.

M

Mike LloydGuest

15:51

And we had some supply chain issues and people issues.

M

Mike LloydGuest

15:54

So we couldn't really guarantee any time, which is frustrating from a manufacturer standpoint.

M

Mike LloydGuest

16:02

Oh, man.

M

Mike LloydGuest

16:03

Because we can't take care of the, number one, we can't take care of the dealer and the consumer.

M

Mike LloydGuest

16:08

But fortunately, a lot of the other trailer manufacturers were in the same boat.

M

Mike LloydGuest

16:15

But it was an exciting time.

Google ChromeSoftware ApplicationWeb browser
98%20 mentions
WellmarkCompanyHealth insurance company
93%20 mentions
IowaAdministrative AreaUS state
88%15 mentions
GeminiEntity
83%13 mentions
BancroftCityCity in Iowa
78%7 mentions
AlgonaCityCity in Iowa
73%4 mentions
AluminiumEntityChemical element
68%1 mention
IndeedWebsiteWebsite
63%7 mentions
Kossuth CountyPlaceCounty in Iowa
57%3 mentions
North AmericaContinentContinent
53%1 mention
U-HaulCompanyRental company
48%1 mention
MankatoCityCity in Minnesota
43%2 mentions
Midwestern United StatesPlaceRegion in the United States of America
38%3 mentions
Blue Cross Blue Shield AssociationCompanyCompany
33%2 mentions
MinnesotaAdministrative AreaUS state
28%2 mentions
NashvilleCityCity in Tennessee
23%2 mentions
United StatesCountryCountry in North America
18%1 mention
South DakotaAdministrative AreaUS state
13%1 mention
All-terrain vehicleEntity
8%1 mention
Side-by-sideEntity
3%1 mention

ManufacturingBusiness
Society
Transportation Equipment ManufacturingBusiness > Manufacturing
Trailer ManufacturingBusiness > Manufacturing > Transportation Equipment Manufacturing
Aluma Aluminum TrailersBusiness > Manufacturing > Transportation Equipment Manufacturing > Trailer Manufacturing
Trailer EngineeringEngineering > Design > Mechanical Design
Gravity-Tilt Aluminum Trailer DesignEngineering > Design > Mechanical Design > Trailer Engineering
Recreational Vehicle MarketEconomics > Markets
Trailer Industry Supply ChainsEconomics > Markets > Recreational Vehicle Market
Aluminum Prices and Post-COVID DemandEconomics > Markets > Recreational Vehicle Market > Trailer Industry Supply Chains
Private Equity PartnershipsBusiness > Management > Corporate Ownership
Aluma-Novi/Brightstar AcquisitionBusiness > Management > Corporate Ownership > Private Equity Partnerships
Midwestern EmploymentSociety > Communities > Rural Communities
Bancroft and Emmitsburg Manufacturing WorkforceSociety > Communities > Rural Communities > Midwestern Employment
Corporate OwnershipBusiness > Management
ManagementBusiness
Mechanical DesignEngineering > Design
CommunitiesSociety
Rural CommunitiesSociety > Communities
DesignEngineering
Economics
Business
MarketsEconomics
Engineering

COVID Demand, Aluminum, and Innovation14:17 – 28:20

M

Mike LloydGuest

14:17

So.

L

14:19

the COVID mess was not kind to many industries.

L

14:27

You were one of those industries that saw an uptick in COVID because more people were enjoying recreation.

L

14:37

They had more time to do it.

L

14:39

And so you had a spike.

M

Mike LloydGuest

14:41

Yeah, we did.

M

Mike LloydGuest

14:42

So right away when COVID hit, um, at that point, our industry was down a little bit.

M

Mike LloydGuest

14:50

So we weren't ramped up to the extent that we probably should

L

14:53

have.

L

14:54

You probably didn't see it coming.

L

14:55

No one

M

Mike LloydGuest

14:56

did.

M

Mike LloydGuest

14:56

Absolutely not.

M

Mike LloydGuest

14:57

And no, we were, we were freaking out just like everybody else, right.

M

Mike LloydGuest

15:02

But within probably three or four weeks, the phone started ringing.

M

Mike LloydGuest

15:08

And we were pleasantly surprised that we got some business.

M

Mike LloydGuest

15:15

And then within two or three months, it was just Katie bar the door, right.

M

Mike LloydGuest

15:22

So eventually, it probably turned into more of a concern, especially on my end, because, you know, our lead times, typically are five to six weeks that a that a dealer could get a trailer from us.

M

Mike LloydGuest

15:39

But During COVID, probably at the end of 2000, our lead time was nine months to 12 months out.

M

Mike LloydGuest

15:51

And we had some supply chain issues and people issues.

M

Mike LloydGuest

15:54

So we couldn't really guarantee any time, which is frustrating from a manufacturer standpoint.

M

Mike LloydGuest

16:02

Oh, man.

M

Mike LloydGuest

16:03

Because we can't take care of the, number one, we can't take care of the dealer and the consumer.

M

Mike LloydGuest

16:08

But fortunately, a lot of the other trailer manufacturers were in the same boat.

M

Mike LloydGuest

16:15

But it was an exciting time.

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