Felling Trailers has been proudly manufacturing trailers for over 50 years. Join us as we take a look back and see how much our company, along with our employees, has grown. Many of you may already know how Felling Trailers started as a small fabrication shop in downtown Sauk Centre in 1974. Continuing to add to this story, we invite you to read our “Grow with Us Series.” Here, you will meet the people of Felling — those who have played a vital part in what our company is today and where we will be tomorrow. Some have been with us for many years, some decades, and others are just beginning their careers. To continue our series, we want you to meet Lucas Mitchell, Senior Press Brake Operator for Felling Trailers, Inc.
Grow With Us Series – 41
Lucas Mitchell
Felling Trailers
Name: Lucas Mitchell
Status: 5 years
Title: Senior Press Brake Operator
Lucas began his career with Felling Trailers in January 2019, working in the Fabrication team as a press brake operator. In this key role, Lucas forms raw steel components to the precise specifications needed for trailer construction. The majority of trailer parts pass through the press brake at some stage of production. As an operator, Lucas reviews job tickets, prioritizes work to maximize efficiency, and performs quality checks to ensure every part meets company standards.
A Drive for Growth and New Opportunities
Before his time with Felling, Lucas worked as a lead operator at an organic foods production facility for five years, then transitioned to a recreational trailer manufacturer where he gained valuable experience welding, assembling, insulating, and delivering finished products. Seeking new growth opportunities, Lucas found his way to Felling Trailers.
Lucas joined our team during an exciting period of technological advancement. A short time before his arrival, Felling had completed construction of our new fabrication center in 2018, which introduced several cutting-edge technologies including a Mitsubishi Fiber laser and a Safan Electric Press Brake. Today, the Fabrication Center houses all three of Felling’s press brakes — the Safan 110-ton Electric Press Brake, the Accupress Edge 250-ton Press Brake, and the Cincinnati CB-11 350-ton Press Brake. As a Senior Operator, Lucas has a strong knowledge of each of these machines and now helps train new team members, sharing his experience and knowledge during their first weeks on the job. Each new employee is paired with a senior team member during their first few weeks to learn the operation of the assigned equipment in the fabrication center.
Adaptability That Keeps Production Moving
One of Lucas’s strengths is his versatility and willingness to adapt to company needs. Throughout his time with Felling, Lucas has applied his skills across multiple roles — press brake operator, saw operator, weld production team member, and material handler — before his current position today as a senior press brake operator.
“I would float to wherever I was needed to help the company keep moving forward. Sometimes it was due to staffing needs being higher in one department than another, or because of workflow changes.”
— Lucas Mitchell, Senior Press Brake Operator
When asked why he chose Felling, Lucas’s answer reflects his forward-thinking mindset: “I chose Felling to find better opportunities and possibilities of advancement within the company.” During his five years here, Lucas has witnessed firsthand the company’s commitment to growth and innovation. “The company continues to grow almost every year,” he notes, “with building expansions like the new powder coat facility and reinvestment in new equipment like the tube laser and weld training center.”
We’re proud to have him on our team and look forward to his continued contributions in the years ahead.
Thank you for all you do, Lucas!
Learn More About Joining the Felling Trailers Team!
Are you interested in becoming part of the Felling Team? Learn more about a career at Felling Trailers and grow with us!
This is the forty-first feature in our “Grow with Us” series. Read the other stories about Ismael Mendoza, Lead Painter, Greg Martino, Senior Welder, Mauricio “Jr” Perez, Parts & Service Associate, Aaron Butler, Senior Material Handler, Chris Senger, Senior Material handler, Ron Funk, Machinist, Johnny Woodman, Lead Welder, Lloyd Shoutz, Maintenance Technician, Warren Weber, Product Manager, Scott Brown, Parts & Service Supervisor, Jim Robischion, Accounting Coordinator, Wade Skillings, Lead Machine Operator, Jacob Meyer, Inside Trailer Sales, Bob Vangstad, (retired) Painter, Chad Steinhofer, Lead Welder, Benji Hudalla, Final Inspector, Nathan Uphus, Sales, Greg Waletzko, (retired)Quality Assurance Manager at Felling Trailers, and Kristie Moritz, Scheduling Coordinator.
