Unverferth growing with the grain business

KALIDA — It’s no secret that the business of growing corn is a growing business. But the business of doing business with those growers isn’t bad either.    The rising popularity of ethanol and other alternative uses have resulted in a boon in grain markets and, subsequently, grain farming. That translates into a boon for Unverferth Manufacturing which for the past 60 years has been manufacturing the equipment that keeps those farmers in the fields.    “It’s been very good recently. The last yearand-a-half, since grain markets have gone up significantly, we’ve done good business, even in this economy,” said President Steve Unverferth.    The Kalida-based company has been in family hands for three generations and has grown beyond anything its founders could have imagined. It began as a small farm supply business operating out of Unverferth’s grandparents’ farm shed. Today, the company has more than 500 employees at three plants and seven warehouse branches throughout the United States and Canada.    The company’s products include drainage tile, wheel systems, grain haulers and tillage equipment which they sell under the names Unverferth as well as Killbros, Parker, and Top Air, companies Unverferth acquired over the past decade. They’re all familiar brands to anyone in the corn and soybean business.    “We’re all across the country. Our customers are actually the farm equipment dealers and farm tractor dealers. We have loyal customers,” Unverferth said.    The company is in the middle of an expansion to keep up with those customers. The company will be adding production space to one of the manufacturing buildings and a second building for warehousing space, all at the main Kalida campus, Unverferth said.    Unverferth Manufacturing recently received a $125,000 Roadwork Development Grant from the state to complete public roadwork improvements in support of the expansion.    The expansion won’t mean more jobs, but it will help the company keep up with steady demand.    “We need to expand our production and the new building allows us to do that,” Unverferth said. “Presently we just want to meet the demand that’s out there right now.”    That demand is thanks in part to the aforementioned growth in the grain markets, but Unverferth said he thinks it goes beyond that.    “It’s about quality products and reliable customer service,” he said. “It’s that good old down-to-earth human touch.”