Allen Engineering 60th Anniversary

A Supplement to Construction Equipment Guide

TH HE EVOLUTIO ON OF LEVE ELING

Congrat r tulatioonss

to our friends and partners p at Alllen Engineeerinng on 60 ye years in the conncrete indu industryy !

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ALLEN ENGINEERING CELEBRATES 60 YEARS

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Through Innovation, Hard Work and Caring Culture, Family-Run Manufacturer Eyes Many More Years of Success

hen J. Dewayne Allen, co-founder of Allen Engineering Corp. (AEC) in Paragould, Ark., passed away in 2020, his wife and business partner, Mary Ann, could easily have walked away from running the company she and her husband first started in 1964.

After all, their son, Jay, who has worked at the family company for more than 30 years and is familiar with every aspect of the business, succeeded his father as AEC’s chief executive officer and part owner.

Instead, Mary Ann prefers to come to work each day and continue as chair of AEC’s board of directors. That allows her to stay close to the heart of the 60-year-old company, which specializes in designing, manufacturing, distributing and marketing the Allen line of concrete and related

equipment sold across the United States and abroad.

Since AEC marked its 50th anniversary in 2014, Allen said she has witnessed changes in how the company operates, although she considers them all to be positive.

“When Dewayne was here, the focus was on innovation and new products,” she said. “He was down there in the middle of fixing something or trying to invent something new. Now, with Jay having been a business major in college, he has been able to make it into a corporation instead of just a little shop grown big.

We’re now a bottom-line-focused business that can do all the things we want to do as a supplier, while continuing with a heart and passion for the industry.” see HISTORY page 8

We’re now a bottom-line-focused business that can do all the things we want to do as a supplier, while continuing with a heart and passion for the industry.”

Mary Ann Allen

Mary Ann Allen (L) and her son, Jay Allen with the tribute photo of founder J. Dewayne Allen and his coveted Golden Trowel – Samuel A. Face Jr. Award. The honor signifies his hard work, contributions and innovations in the industry. The photo and award are the centerpiece of the lobby.

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Cadence Co C ngratula tulates Allen Eng gineering g Corporation on 60 0 Years Caden nce Insurance, A Gallag gher Company, delivers the highest standard in brok o erage services nationally and globally. We are an industry leader in com mmercial insurance, surrety, and employee ben nefits.

Cad denceInsurance.com m

© 2024 Arth hur J. Gallagher & Co. | GGBUS100005

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4/3/2024 4:29:03 PM

Allen Engineering Corp.’s facility in Paragould, Ark. HISTORY from page 4

For his part, Jay Allen pointed to a few other differences in the company since 2014, including AEC’s implementation of an active and functioning fiduciary board made up of three outside directors and three Allen family members, which, he said, gives AEC “real accountability in its governing” and allows it to operate better.

“It’s unusual for a privately-owned company to run in this manner, but it gives us a lot of input at the highest level of the business,” he said.

Allen added that the concrete equipment manufacturer has layers of professional leadership — representing finance, administration, sales and marketing, operations, supply chain logistics, engineering and product development — that are always working to improve the business.

Seen here is the original AEC office in Piggott, Ark., in the mid-1960s.

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Intense growth in the past 10 years has led to doubling the welding area and staff. Here, Justin Bobo does the final welds on a ride-on trowel.

Brandon McAlpin (L) and Cody Stephens work toward completion of a built-to-order bridge deck concrete paver in the Paving Equipment Center.

In the training and demonstration room of the main manufacturing facility, a “brand new” 1987 Red Rider power trowel is on display. This unit is serial number 2 and at the time, it was described as “the concrete finisher’s dream come true.”

Darrell West fine sands welds and any imperfections and cleans up all metal before sending an 8-ft. ride-on trowel frame to the paint shop.

Travis Standley (L) and William Finney enjoy their “ride time” during final quality control analysis of each machine before it goes out the door.

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A new R&D area is now located at the very center of the facility. This is where engineers, fabricators and assembly associates bring together their collaborative ideas for machines of tomorrow.

By employing an entrepreneurial operating system (EOS) to establish an efficient structure within AEC, Allen said, “We know at each level what we are supposed to be doing on a daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly basis.

“The idea behind this is to push accountability and responsibility down through the organization so that, hopefully, many of the key decisions are made by our shop floor associates.”

Allen Engineering also works to find executives and associates that it feels can work well within its company culture. When it decides to interview new people, AEC uses a personality profile to help determine what its potential associates enjoy doing and where their best fit best may be. see HISTORY page 10

Jay Allen is Allen Engineering Corp.’s chief executive officer and part owner.

Don Gordon is Allen Engineering Corp.’s vice president of operations.

“I am most proud of the fact that we have worked to make our company a place where our associates feel like family,” he said. “They know they are cared for and that we want to do the right thing.”

Joey Ward is Allen Engineering Corp.’s vice president of sales and marketing.

Jay Allen

HISTORY from page 9

For example, AEC has two chaplains working part time through AEC Cares, an in-house benevolence ministry. It also is designed to help AEC’s people and their families get through tough times. That could include the company helping an associate navigate a range of issues, from paying their power bill to taking care of a medical expense, Allen said.

On the business side, AEC has worked hard to expand its business and to enlarge its footprint.

“Since 2014, we have promoted paving equipment, bridge deck finishers, triple roller tube pavers, polyester concrete pavers and other specialty pavement equipment that we make,” Allen said.

In addition, AEC has recently moved into making ride-on concrete polishers and polishing diamond tooling.

“Ten years ago, our concrete paving products represented probably three percent of our revenue,” said Allen. “Now, it’s around 10 percent. Concrete finishing is our biggest category today and represents close to 60 percent of our revenue. We are best known for our power trowels and ride-on trowels, and they are our biggest category, but we have intentionally been diversifying from that as well. Not that we aren’t investing and making better trowels, but we just don’t want them to be all we make.”

AEC’s changes over the past decade have succeeded, evidenced by the fact that it made approximately $63 million in sales last year — double its business from 2014, he said.  CEG 10

Natasha Swift is Allen Engineering Corp.’s vice president of supply chain and logistics.

Shannon Powers is Allen Engineering Corp.’s director of finance and administration.

LATE ALLEN ENGINEERING CO-FOUNDER STILL INSPIRES HIS COMPANY TODAY

The company’s South Building, which used to be J. Dewayne Allen’s “playhouse” for prototyping and engineering ideas, was renovated after his passing to become a center specifically for paving products, a market segment that Mr. Allen expanded for future growth opportunities.

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he driving force behind the success of Allen Engineering

come up with solutions for them. No matter how wacky the probCorp. (AEC) since it opened its doors in 1964 was J. lem may have been, he would devote a fair amount of time to fixDewayne Allen, a man whom his son, Jay, described as “bril- ing it even though it didn’t make him any money.”

To Dewayne Allen, the challenge of finding a solution was the liant” and “ahead of his time.”

Following Dewayne’s death in November 2020, Jay Allen was thing, and Jay said his father was not happy when there were no challenges in front of him. named as AEC’s CEO and part “That was the fuel for his fire owns the company with his and although he was super drivmother, Mary Ann Allen. en, Dad had a kind and gentle But make no mistake, despite side to him too,” he said. “Back his passing, Dewayne Allen has in 2020 at his memorial service, I continued to remain a largerwas amazed at the number of than-life presence inside AEC and AEC associates that were very across the industry as a whole. emotional about his passing and “I like to say that he could see the impact that he had had on around corners that most people their lives. Even though he was a could not,” Jay said. “He could tough man, he loved and cared foresee the opportunities and about them and wanted to help needs of the business. Plus, he them be the best version of just loved concrete and contracthemselves. He always wanted to tors; in fact, he was at his best in push and challenge people to do front of prospects. things they probably didn’t think “For instance, at World of they could do.”

Concrete over the years, contractors brought their problems or Dewayne and Mary Ann Allen in a photo taken at the AEC facility in Euless, see DEWAYNE page 12 challenges to him, and he would Texas, in 1987.

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Dewayne and Mary Ann Allen.

During the grand opening of the J. Dewayne Allen Paving Equipment and Product Development Center in 2021, the Allen family poses for a photo. (L-R): Anna Joy Allen, Mary Leigh Allen, Leslie Allen, Jay Allen, Mary Ann Allen, John Allen Jr., Jaxson Allen and John Allen Sr.

DEWAYNE from page 11

When Dewayne’s widow, Mary Ann, was asked The younger Allen also recently about what kind of recalls his father’s willingman he was, she said that he ness to be a risk-taker. was “intense and focused on “He was not afraid to this business.” push and prod, and if he got She agreed with Jay that to a dead end, he would his rough demeanor often pivot and go in another belied the side of him that direction — that’s who he cared about everyone. was. I remember when I got His family also noted that into this business, after gradbesides being an innovator, uate school and being in the Dewayne was the ultimate banking industry for seven performer and could be years, I realized he was bethilarious during AEC’s prodting the farm on this busiuct presentations. ness about once a year — “Here’s a funny story,” Jay something you don’t want to said. “One year at a trade do, but, somehow, he did it show, we brought a triple and succeeded.” trowel equipped with three The risks of running and growing a manufacturing Mary Ann Allen addresses invited guests to the grand opening of the J. Dewayne Allen rotors and three engines — a real beast. It had a nightcompany simply did not Paving Equipment and Product Development Center in 2021. marish design, but Dad mean as much to Dewayne Allen as pursuing his passion to invent and engineer machines to wanted a triple trowel. So, we did an unveiling in the booth, the help his customers succeed in their businesses, Jay said, adding press was there, and someone yells, ‘Start it up Dewayne!’ He starts that his father’s mentality was if he continued to devise well-engi- up the trowel, something you aren’t supposed to do indoors with people everywhere in this convention center. Smoke is billowing neered equipment, the business part would take care of itself.

“My dad was not a businessman in the traditional sense, but out of the machine and everyone’s running over saying, ‘Hey, you business success followed his leadership,” he said. “We built some can’t do that!’ Dewayne calmly said, ‘Why not? It’s my booth, and cool stuff, and he was prolific in his patents. Ultimately, though, in my machine. I’m going to run it!’”

His son added, “When he was on his game, he was fantastic. today’s industrial climate, you must have a financially sound business to support all that you are trying to do. We’re still super inno- There was no one I would rather be with when he was in his elevative and are currently building a half-dozen new concrete prod- ment, which was mostly on the road, at a trade show or on a job ucts. I make sure we’re always pushing the envelope and produc- site. If he was here at the office sitting behind the desk, he wasn’t as happy.”  CEG ing new stuff.”

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MEETING ALL CHALLENGES Allen Engineering Designs Its Innovative Concrete Equipment to Excel in All Job Sites

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ong known as a premier maker of

Over the past several decades, the manufacturer has maintained innovative and well-built cona leading role in the evolution of crete equipment for conhigh tolerance concrete floors tractor use, Allen Engineering’s around the world. It also was the product lineup is designed to withfirst company to put floating stand the most challenging jobsite discs under a ride-on power conditions. trowel, an innovation that led to From its 173,000-sq.-ft. manufaca significant improvement in the turing plant in Paragould, Ark., flatness of concrete floors.

AEC produces a range of machines Because of the workmanship for placing, finishing, polishing and and attention to detail it applies paving all types of concrete. to all its machines, AEC counts To assist in that, the company many of the world’s major conemploys a roster of talented crete contractors among its satisdesigners and engineers that develfied customers. op and build its concrete and related equipment for sale across the Battery-Powered Concrete United States and overseas.

Polisher a ‘Game Changer’ Among them are power bug- An extremely skilled mechanical riding trowel assembly team knows their After being developed and gies, tracked rider dumpers, products and exhibit the Allen value of teamwork in supporting its riding refined over the past few years, screeds, ride-on power trowels, trowel customers.

AEC’s concrete polishing equipfour types of ride-on concrete polment model line has recently been introduced to the marketplace ishers and a series of pavers and finishers.

Allen Engineering’s in-house operations include not only equip- — a move that Jay Allen, the company’s chief executive officer, ment design and engineering, but prototyping, testing, computer called “a real game changer” for AEC. Included in that is the mannumerical control machining, in addition to metal fabrication, laser ufacturer’s unique ROP150-B, the maker’s first battery-powered, metal cutting, welding, powder coat painting, assembly, ware- purpose-built ride-on concrete polisher. housing and distribution. see LINEUP page 18

“The technology is brand new and super innovative.

Allen Engineering brought out the very first lithium-ion wheel buggy approximately five years ago, and its reliability continues to increase every year.”

Jay Allen Mike Brannum (L) and Ed Puckett assemble a seat frame as part of the riding trowel assembly process.

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1976 Dewayne Allen moved his family to Houston, TX. This is where they were introduced to Truss Screeds.

1964 Allen-Hardiin Ready-Mix established d in Piggott, AR. This compa any became Allen Engin neering.

1977 The Allen Family moved back k to Paragould, ÅR where theyy began manufacturing Screeed,, Fine Graters, and Spreaderrs..

196 68 The Allen Family mooved to Paragould, AR in nto a mobile home on prem mise off the th fact f tory t .

1997 Allen Engineering introduced Hydraulic Steering on their Riding Trowels.

1993 1 A Allen Engineering introduced thee Magic Screed.

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1999 Allen Engineering sold d their first Slipfform Paver.

1996 Allen Engineering manufactured the first 6036 Bridge Deck Finish her.

1 1976 Dewayne Allen moved his D fa amily to Houston, TX. This iss where they were introd duced to Truss Screeds.

1987 7

1981 1

Allen Engineering introduced their firsst Riding Trowel modelss.

Alllen Engineering introduced o th he Model 12 oscillatin ng Brridge Deck Finisher.

1964

198 82

Allen-Hardin n Ready-Mix established in Piggott, AR. This compan ny became Allen Engineeering.

Allen Engineering E introdu uced their first Walk Behind B Trowels.

1977 7 1991

The Allen Family moved bacck k to Paragould, ÅR where theeyy began manufacturing Screed d,, Fine Graters, and Spreaderss..

The first Allen Concrete College is held in Paragould, AR.

196 68

2010 0

The Allen Family moved to Paragould, AR intto a mobile home on prem mise off th the ffacto tory.

Allen Engineering g purchased Millerr Power Buggies..

1997 Allen Engineering introduced Hydraulic Steering on their Riding Trowels.

2006 Dewayne Alllen received the the coveted e Golden Trowel Awarrd.

1993 1 A Allen Engineeriing introduced the Magic Screed.

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1999 Allen En ngineering sold their first Slipfo orm Paver.

1996 Allen Engineering manufactured the first 6036 Bridge Deck Finisheer.

2 2013 Allen Eng gineering launched theeir line of Track Buggies.

2020 Allen Engineering introduced their Ride On Polishers. olishers

1987

1 1981

Allen Engineering E introduceed their first Riding Trow wel models.

Alllen Engineeering introduced th he Model 12 2 oscillating Brridge Deck k Finisher.

1982 Allen Engineering introduced their first Walk Behind Trowels.

199 91 The first Allen Concrete Collegee is held in Paragould, AR. A

2010 Allen Engineering purcha ased Miller Power e Buggies.

2 2006 Deewayne Allen received the the coveted Golden Trowel Award.

2013 Allen Engineering lau unched their line of Track Buggies.

202 20 Allen Engineeering introduced their t Ride On Polish hers hers.

A substantial addition to the facility in recent years provides a tremendous amount of whole goods storage area and a shipping department and brings the total overall square footage of the facility to more than 225,000 sq. ft.

LINEUP from page 13

Its engine runs off 48-volt, lithium-ion batteries, has a polishing width of 68 in. and is designed specifically to maneuver in tight indoor job sites.

“These machines eliminate exhaust fumes when working inside a warehouse or a box store,” said Allen. “Typically, propane machines are used indoors, but we offer battery-powered units that produce zero emissions.”

AEC’s model ROP150-B polisher can operate for approximately four hours between charges and, if needed, a contractor can either bring in a second fullycharged machine or quickly put in a backup battery pack, which provides six to eight hours of run time on the job, before being recharged overnight.

Allen said that the polisher’s power pack utilizes Vanguard battery technology, which he explained has worked very successfully in other AEC products.

A completed bridge deck paver on the yard awaits delivery.

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“We are excited to add more tracked buggies and dumpers to our offering as well as drive into new markets with this partnership.”

Jay Allen

Marco Vignaroli with Marco Grucci, sales director of Messersi, in front of an Allen by Messersi track dumper in the AEC booth at the ARA Show in New Orleans.

“The technology is brand new and super innovative,” he said. “Allen Engineering brought out the very first lithiumion wheel buggy approximately five years ago, and its reliability continues to increase every year.”

He added, “Among the current scope of environmentally friendly job sites, such as retail, hospital and school renovations, where the specifications for any enclosed work areas require no emissions, AEC’s polishers have proven to be an invaluable investment. Even certain municipalities, particularly those in the Northeast United States, are seeing these machines being put in the specs of certain bids for zero emissions.”

AEC Partners With Italian Equipment Maker

Marco Vignaroli, CEO of Messersi, and Jay Allen, CEO of AEC, reveal one of the first Allen by Messersi-branded track dumpers at AEC headquarters in Paragould, Ark.

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With concrete buggies and rider dumpers having become such a big part of the concrete industry worldwide, AEC announced in January 2024 that it had entered into a partnership with Messersi, S.p.A., based in Ancona, Italy, to become the European manufacturer’s master distributor of its product line in North America.

Like AEC, Messersi also is renowned for its compact construction equipment, with its products ranging from minidumpers and track carriers to compact loaders and miniexcavators.

Messersi’s machines will be co-branded under the name Allen by Messersi and will include both tracked buggies and tracked dumpers, Allen said, while Allen Engineering will continue to produce its own lineup of wheel buggies, many of which have been very popular among U.S. contractors for years.

“We are excited to add more tracked buggies and dumpers to our offering as well as drive into new markets with this partnership,” he said.  CEG

TAKING AWAY ‘PAIN ON PROJECTS’ True to Its Founder, Allen Engineering Continues to Embrace Technological Advances

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t is not surprising that a company started 60

years ago by Dewayne Allen, a talented inventor and innovator of well-made machines for use in the concrete trade, has never shied away from embracing new, 21st century technologies.

Allen Engineering Corp. (AEC) has built its reputation among concrete contractors by constantly searching for the latest methods and designs to build its various product lines — from power buggies and screeds, to trowels, ride-on concrete polishers and pavers.

By providing the most efficient technological advances on its products, AEC is able to fulfill one of its primary goals: to remove any difficulty from its machines that could hinder its customers on a job site, said Dewayne’s son, Jay, who became AEC’s chief executive officer in 2022 following his father’s passing.

“We exist to take away their pain on a project,” he said. “I would say without exception, if you were to interview 100 contractors, 95 of them are going to say they can’t get enough skilled and The variable light rail paver (VLP) is a relatively new product that Allen is now prounskilled labor to work the jobs. So, 100 percent of our ducing and is specific to the high-speed rail industry. This machine’s engineering and focus now is to produce efficient machines for a more design won an innovation award in 2020. mechanized process to make work easier and faster on the job site.”

AEC understands that its customers already work in grueling “There is not a lot of glamour involved in the trade,” he said, conditions; it is often hot and dangerous and demands concrete “but we try our best to design and engineer machines that provide crews toil long hours — sometimes throughout the night. them with ease and efficiency.”

Therefore, Allen noted that technologically advanced manufacturing with a simplified intuitive process — possibly one day including artificial intelligence — is what will continue to make AEC successful. The equipment maker also has applied mechanization and labor savings on its Paragould, Ark., factory floor.

But, he cautioned, no one on his skilled team of employees will lose their jobs as a result.

“They are far too valuable to us for that to happen,” Allen said.

“We spent $2.5 million in 2023 alone in our plant and everything we bought had an automation component to it,” he added. “You can’t really say it is becoming robotic; rather, it is just a single operator having the ability to do quicker operations without the assistance of other team members.”

The family-run company, which includes his mother, Mary Ann, AEC’s part owner and board chair, also decided the manufacturing facility should continue to be operated using an asset-heavy model, Jay Allen said, “where we fabKen Jones works with an EMI automated tube plasma cutter to produce precision cuts ricate, weld, machine, paint, assemble, design and engineer our products — all in-house.” for building and welding another ride-on trowel.

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Allen noted that technologically advanced manufacturing with a simplified intuitive process — possibly one day including artificial intelligence — is what will continue to make AEC successful.

This method is in contrast to asset-light manufacturing favored by many other companies, he said, where all the same factory floor processes “are completed in another country, shipped back in containers and final assembly is done in the States so it can be tagged as ‘Made in America.’

We have chosen not to do it that way.”

AEC also prefers its methodology because it can better control the quality of its output and react quickly to change. A good example of the latter was seen during the pandemic when many of the manufacturer’s competitors struggled to get parts and products that were either stuck in ports or simply unable to be shipped at all.

Advanced Products Being Designed Every Day

Nicki Scoggin programs a job into a milling machine for metal componentry. This state-of-the art machine technology is one of the most recent large-scale investments in the fabrication department.

Another huge new investment in fabrication is the purchase of a pair of Safan Darley electric press brakes, which helps to substantially increase productivity for team member operator Dustin Chipman.

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Allen Engineering’s design-engineer teams are currently delving into the creation and use of plug-and-play adaptability for adding laser equipment to some of its machines for maximum accuracy and comprehensive grade control, according to Allen.

One of the more intriguing projects they have been perfecting, he said, involves implementing remote-control capabilities in many of AEC’s products.

The Allen TRTP275 Triple Roller Tube Paver, for instance, allows its operator to take it through its paces remotely while standing a short distance away from the model. At the same time, a remote-controlled concrete pump can be operated with another controller.

“This method of concrete paving might become the wave of the future in regard to precision and accuracy on pours,” Allen said. “It had been a request from contractors for some time now. It makes it easier to see what’s going on with the job by being a bit removed from the machine.”

Another relatively new offering gaining in popularity among many AEC’s concrete customers is the manufacturer’s two Versatile Light Paver (VLP) models.

Designed for railroad platform construction, these machines are used primarily on transit projects as well as for light and heavy rail. Allen said that they essentially combine a bridge finisher with a truss screed.

The VLP2424 model, for example, has worked successfully on several rail projects on the West Coast, he said.  CEG

TAKING ON THE WORLD Allen Engineering’s Recent Strategies Increase Revenue, Kickstart Global Growth

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hen Allen Engineering Corp. (AEC) celebrated 50 years in business in 2014, the company implemented a rather bold strategy designed to continue its financial success as well as expand its presence in the global marketplace.

The Arkansas-based concrete product manufacturer’s “50-in5” growth plan aimed to increase AEC’s revenues by $50 million in five to seven years, said current company CEO Jay Allen.

Despite market uncertainty, particularly during the pandemic, AEC managed to hit that goal in 2021. Allen said that the mark was reached due to “tremendous” growth in the previous few years and, oddly enough, was also helped along by COVID-19.

“During COVID everyone stayed home and ordered things online,” Allen said. “But the U.S. did not have enough infrastructure in place for every household in America to buy their stuff online and have brought to their doorstep. A tremendous number of distribution facilities needed to be built in order to deliver on that promise, many of which were for large-scale retailers.”

As a result, AEC benefited because concrete placement and finishing products were in high demand to help construct more large warehouses and distribution centers, he said.

In 2024, having reached 60 years as a leading manufacturer and with the pandemic much less of

Chris Keen, managing director of Preimer Concrete Equipment, being rewarded as Allen Engineering’s Top International Dealer of 2023 by Jay Allen, CEO of Allen Engineering Corp.

In 2024, having reached 60 years as a leading manufacturer and with the pandemic much less of a threat worldwide, AEC has taken steps to capitalize on the preference by equipment dealers to purchase their machines and parts online.

(L-R): Ken Edwards, Sam Adams, Jay Allen, Chris Keen, CK Tan and Jacinta Witham. This is the team at Premier Concrete Equipment (PCE) at their office and warehouse in Brisbane, Australia. PCE is a master distributor of Allen Equipment in Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia. PCE is a sister company of Allen Engineering with shared Allen Family ownership.

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Seen here is a concrete pour being placed and finished by Kraftur in Brisbane, Australia using Allen ride-on power trowels. Kraftur buys its Allen riders through Premier Concrete Equipment.

a threat worldwide, AEC has taken steps to capitalize on the preference by equipment dealers to purchase their machines and parts online. In the coming months, the company will be introducing its new online store for dealers and rental centers to make their purchases.

AEC Aiming for Larger Global Reach According to Allen, the service is just one part of AEC’s new global strategy focused on distributing its concrete products across the planet.

“Global distribution is becoming the key to that strategy,” he said. “Another of our biggest innovations is striking a deal for controlling interest in Premier Concrete Equipment, our master distributor in Southeast Asia and based in Brisbane, Australia. The operation is run by a former Allen Engineering employee from Arkansas.

“This endeavor takes up a lot of our time and resources,” Allen said. “We have people going down there quite a bit to help support him. It’s a long way from here, but it’s worth it. We have considered this same model in other areas as it’s very much a consultative sell, and all about helping contractors achieve really good results on their floors using laser screeds and ride-on power trowels.”

He said it also is a very technical sell because AEC views the remaining portions of Asia as a challenge due to “the flood of cheaply built and technologically inferior products.”

In addition, AEC is looking to expand to Latin America with an eye to growth in Mexico and points south.

“Having original equipment manufacturing competitors with good products in Europe, though, makes that region a bit more

(L-R): With Jay Allen are Don D’Angola, Mario D’Angola and Chris Keen, owners of Azzurri Concrete based in Sydney, Australia. Azzurri uses Allen ride-on power trowels to place and finish concrete on its large concrete placements all around the metro Sydney area.

challenging for us,” Allen said.

In thinking globally and formulating a strategy to succeed on the worldwide stage, he said it is incumbent upon a company to look at what OEM players are its competition and how they plan to position themselves.

“I think I counted 10 other power trowel manufacturers this year, some of which I had never heard of before,” Allen said.

“Many have staying power, and some will be at one or two trade shows, after which you won’t see them again. They come in to test the market and will pull back if they are not successful. We take them seriously and don’t dismiss them because we know that, especially at the low end of the market, they can make a good product that is competitive. AEC takes all of this into consideration and essentially goes ‘up market’ to produce more complex, more full-featured machines.”  CEG 23

BACK TO SCHOOL Allen Concrete College Trains Contractors to Get the Best From Their AEC Products

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n the mid-1990s, as Allen

“The ACC has really been great for us,” he added. “In Engineering Corp. (AEC) fact, I would say the prohad matured and grown gram is a key driver of the to become one of the customer loyalty that we most popular concrete enjoy among concrete conequipment makers in the tractors.”

United States, owner and The educational sessions founder Dewayne Allen realcombine a classroom semiized that his customer base nar and hands-on training in needed to be better educated concrete placing and finishin how to get a maximum ing techniques to produce return on their investments. high F-number floors.

Along with Harry Horn, Contractors and crew memone of AEC’s top salespeople bers learn how to increase at the time, Allen started the Allen started the Allen Concrete College (ACC) to train contractors on how the flatness and levelness of Allen Concrete College Dewayne best to utilize the AEC machines they bought to work on their job sites. the floors, the basics of con(ACC) to train contractors on crete flooring mix design how best to utilize the AEC and the F-number system, machines they bought to which uses floor surface curwork on their job sites. vature calculated from elevaAllen and Horn were firm tion differences over 24-in. believers that showing their increments as a measure of customers the proper ways flatness. to use their concrete equipUnfortunately, with the ment would not only outbreak of the pandemic in improve their output but 2020, Allen Engineering was keep those contractors comforced to shut down the ACC ing back to AEC repeatedly. course work for a while, After initially setting up Allen said, and only started product demonstrations in holding the training again in the spring and summer, AEC’s sales team took charge “The college has helped to educate thousands of contractors since 1995 and offer the past year or so.

“What we’ve done so far of holding the training ses- them tips on getting the absolute most from our machines,” said Jay Allen, AEC’s curis some in-house dealer sions and the program has rent chief executive officer. training, some knowledge since become one of the training for our customers and we manufacturer’s most successful cushave plans to bring back the live tomer-relation efforts. concrete pour demonstrations later “The college has helped to eduthis year,” he said. “In addition, we cate thousands of contractors since are looking to possibly partner with 1995 and offer them tips on getting a laser screed manufacturer and the absolute most from our hopefully provide some type of cermachines,” said Jay Allen, AEC’s tification for the contractor after current chief executive officer and completion of the class — perhaps the successor to his father, an American Society of Concrete Dewayne, who passed away in Contractors [ASCC] or an American 2020. “The program is also a way to Concrete Institute [ACI] certification. bring customers to our Paragould, “We are working on that right Ark., manufacturing plant to see now and we still get a lot of how well the machines are constructed and the quality of people The training sessions and the program has since become one of AEC’s requests for the concrete college program.”  CEG behind the equipment. most successful customer-relation efforts.

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901-384-8286

sales@mckeanfluidair.com www.mckeanfluidair.net

901-383-9008 Fax

1909 Thomas Road • Memphis, TN 38134

THE PREMIERE INDUSTRIAL FLUID POWER SOLUTIONS COMPANY OF THE MID SOUTH

Congratulations Allen Engineering on 60 Years of Innovation HYDRAULICS ~ PNEUMATICS ~ AUTOMATION ~ SYSTEMS ENGINEERING HYDRAULICS

NFPA MEDIUM AND HIGH PRESSURE CYLINDERS DIRECTIONAL AND PROPORTIONAL VALVES PUMPS, MOTORS, HYDROSTATIC DRIVES PRESSURE • FLOW CONTROLS/DIVIDERS SUBPLATES • MANIFOLDS PACKAGED AND CUSTOM POWER UNITS OIL FILTRATION, TESTING AND MONITORING SOLUTIONS MOBILE STACK VALVES • HEAT EXCHANGERS FITTINGS • TUBING • HOSE ASSEMBLIES LEVEL GAUGES • TANKS • ACCESSORIES

PNEUMATICS

LINEAR • ROTARY • RODLESS ACTUATORS STEPPER AND SERVO ACTUATORS AIR PREPARATION • DRYERS FIELDBUS AND WIRELESS DIRECTIONAL VALVES PRESSURE AND FLOW SWITCHES PROCESS CHILLERS VACUUM FITTINGS • TUBING • FLOW CONTROLS

Representing Quality Manufacturers

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Congratula at attions to Allen Engineering on 60 Yeears of Success!

Adva vanced Motion Control rol Industrial Hydraulics and Mobile/Off-Highw wa ay Applicat ation solutions

Founded in 1953 and based in Farmers Branch, TX, Womack provides hydraulic, pneumatic, and electromechanical solutions for mobile and industrial motion control and automation applications.

Conttact Us Today ay! 888-870-5949

information@womackmachine.com | www.womackmachine.com

From our family to yours, congratulations on

60

great years in business.

304 North 35th Avenue Paragould, AR 72450 (870) 236-8534 28

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. y er y-powered equipment opens a whole set of oppor tuni n ties. But the challenges of ering on the jobsite remain. Our exper tise, g with thoughtful u collaboration, matches nique needs of Allen’s equipment with an batter y system. Our fixed and swappable m -ion batter y systems are built to be smar ter, safer, and tougher. Thank you for letting us prove it. © 2024 Briggs & Stratton. All rights reser ved.

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