TORRINGTON – Since 1993, Schlagel Manufacturing has helped meet the needs of agricultural and fabrication businesses across the country. Company founder Ron Schlagel was a Goshen County farmer who was convinced there had to be a simpler, more economical way to prepare his soil for planting. Conventional tilling practices left his land at the mercy of wind and rain, not to mention the number of trips he had to make through a field
After many designs and re-designs, Schlagel built the Till-N-Plant strip till machine that prepares a strip of ground just wide enough and deep enough for planting whichever row crop is .
“The idea is (the strip tiller) is a conservation operation, only tilling an area eight inches wide right where you place the seed,” said Bryan Schlagel, Ron’s son, who, along with his brother Bryce, have run the company since Ron passed away several years ago. “You can also fertilize with the implement and can even attach a seeder right behind it.
“When dad first had the idea there wasn’t anybody doing strip tilling, now it is a lot more common.”
Although it was the Till-N-Plant that launched the company, Schlagel Manufacturing has also designed and produced its own line of planter wheels, grapple forks, bale handlers and even a gopher eliminator, among other ag products.
With 30 employees and some of the best 21st century technology available, Schlagel Manufacturing can also handle any custom fabrication job that comes through the door, even if is only a concept.
“We have three engineers on staff that help with the design and testing of all of our products and any idea someone might come to us with,” said Bryan. “Using our design programs we can design a project and load test it for any weaknesses right on the computer.
“Then when its ready to be assembled, the work orders are automatically sent to each manufacturing area for production and assembly.”
Even with all the bells and whistles at the factory, Schlagel’s mobile unit, which launched about a year ago, is outfitted and ready to roll out the door at a moments notice to assist with any problem or breakdown that can’t be pulled, pushed or trailered into the factory.
“Basically, we can service any industry, not just agriculture,” Bryan explained. “And our mobile unit is supported by our manufacturing facility, so we can machine and fabricate just about any part that’s needed. There really isn’t any job that is too big, or too little, that our mobile unit can’t handle.”
To see a full lineup of Schlagel’s products and services, including its mobile unit, visit their website, www.schlagel.net, or call (307) 532-4451.
