Trucks & Trailers
SECTION
Pages 56-63
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Creative Design Fuels Bauer Built’s Future Plans Among the top product lines are the SD-36 off-road side-dump trailer and the SMS-32 manure spreader.
By Ruksana Hussain CEG CORRESPONDENT
When Vaughn Bauer began designing and manufacturing folding planters for local agriculture in Paton, Iowa, he was simply improving upon the design and utility of machinery used commonly by farmers in the area. Not only did he create and develop his own unique solutions, but he also helped others with his expertise, as well. Word caught on quickly and he became known for his innovations. What began as Paton Machine and Welding, a machine, weld and paint garage for custom jobs that opened in 1982, is now Bauer Built Manufacturing (BBM), an 80-staff strong operation housed in a 300,000-sq.-ft. large-scale manufacturing facility with services including CNC machining, laser cutting and saw cutting, welding and assembly. The company specializes in designing, manufacturing and assembling construction and agricultural machinery for clients within and outside the
With business ramping up again this year following the slump brought on by the pandemic, Bauer Built Manufacturing is eyeing markets on both coasts and internationally.
United States. The company’s tremendous growth in these 40 years has included an interest from American manufacturing behemoth Deere & Company. In 2002, a team from John Deere came knocking on Bauer’s door, having observed his creativity in action, and leading to Bauer working exclusively with the company on cobranded planters. The Deere Bauer toolbars are said to be the only cobranding John Deere has ever done on equipment in the country. In 2013, Deere & Company acquired part of BBM and in 2015, Bauer was recognized with the Greene County Farm Bureau Distinguished Service to Ag Award for his contributions to the area and the industry. “Our main forte now is we are a big enough shop that we Bauer Built Manufacturing’s can handle large products primary markets are conand projects to do start-tostruction and agriculture. finish manufacturing. Where a lot of places only specialize in welding or machining, we can do everything,” said Design Engineer Garret Johnson, an Iowa State University see BAUER page 58
