All’s fair in love and tours

Our community workforce is something Ledwell strives to inspire and build confidence in. That’s why we’ve kicked it up a notch with our community’s schools. During the last year, we traveled throughout the Ark-La-Tex area to attend local school career fairs. We’ve enjoyed educating students about one of the many vocational career opportunities that are available in the area.

We also increased tours of our plant for middle and high school students to explore the possibilities of manufacturing. Sometimes knowing your options is everything. These tours and fairs are opening minds to the idea of manufacturing as a career and the many skill sets within it that are needed. We want to help the next generation discover their love of manufacturing! To schedule your next school field trip with Ledwell, contact us to request a tour.

Ledwell offers school tours for local students

Mica Morse

Ledwell Employee Spotlight January 2020

For almost a decade, Mica Morse has been a part of the Ledwell Sales Team. He has covered several regions across the United States and Canada over the years and currently supports many national accounts. He delivers solutions to opportunities customers present daily. Mica says the most important lessons he’s learned from working at Ledwell are providing good customer service and working with a sense of urgency. Every call he receives is important to him, and he implements a process to get requests done quickly.

His main goal is to help customers make money. Mica has been able to achieve that time and time again. “Watching and helping several of my customers start small and grow into sizable companies has been amazing,” he said. His responsiveness and loyalty have really helped him, and his customers achieve their goals over the last nine years.

When Mica isn’t helping customers, he is teaching his family the joys of hunting, fishing and playing sports. He and his wife have three children, two girls and a boy. Thank you, Mica for your dedication and support to Ledwell!

Ledwell Employee Spotlight January 2020

IPPE in ATL

We hope to see you at IPPE

The poultry industry is responsible for circulating safe and nutritious poultry products. Feed provides the nutrients for poultry at different stages, making supporting those who support you important.

Ledwell will be attending the International Production and Processing Expo from January 28th through 30th of 2020 to support the industry. The event will take place in Atlanta, GA, at the Georgia World Congress Center at 285 Andrew Young International Blvd NW. We will be located in the Green Hall, or Building A, in booth number 2336.

IPE will be hosting over 30,000 guests and more than 8,000 international visitors from over 131 countries. In 2019, Canada brought the largest group from a single country outside the United States, with 1,283 visitors. The largest region represented was the Caribbean, Latin America, Mexico, and South America, with 3,271 visitors. This major event of the year can potentially open the doors to so many opportunities in the realm of feed and poultry. To register or learn more about the event, you can visit the IPPE website and select attendee. Registration, however, can be done at the event.

This event aims to connect those businesses and people who can help one another and provide growth for these industries. A variety of companies, people, and positions will be in attendance, and they are all looking to improve lives. With this focus in mind, the exposition is providing an ample amount of educational opportunities. You can find out more about the educational opportunities.

Come find Ledwell at booth number 2336. Let us know how your day goes on social media with #ledwellmade. We look forward to hearing from you and finding out more about how we can serve you.

Outlook for Rental in 2020

Rental in 2020

The rental industry exploded in 2019, and according to Rental Management Magazine, 2020 is looking to the positive side too.

The equipment and event rental industry in North America is expected to finish the year with total revenue up 5.35 percent to $61.56 billion, the first time combined rental revenue for Canada and the United States has surpassed $60 billion, according to the latest forecast released by the American Rental Association (ARA).

The latest updated figures, released Nov. 7, show rental revenue in the U.S. forecasted to be $56.02 billion in 2019, with Canada generating $5.54 billion in revenue from rentals of construction and industrial, general tool, and party and event equipment.

The five-year forecast calls for continued growth with U.S. rental revenue in 2023 reaching $64.1 billion and Canada at $6.35 billion.

Although the outlook calls for slightly slower growth rates than the previous quarterly forecast in August, the industry continues to outpace the general economy in the U.S. where gross domestic product (GDP) growth slowed from a 3.1 percent annual growth rate in the first quarter to 2.0 percent in the second quarter. The third-quarter GDP growth estimate is 1.9 percent.

According to the full report in December’s issue, Steve Mau reports, “As we look toward 2020, it is safe to say we are cautiously optimistic.” We are excited to start another amazing year and can’t wait to help the rental industry grow!

Be sure to read his entire report on the construction outlook, as well as, corresponding reports on general tool and event outlooks.

The Right Ledwell Equipment for Agriculture and Food Production

Ledwell Bulk Haul Feed Trailers

The agricultural industry is full of jobs, tools, materials, and more all designed to promote the production of food for animals, and for you. A big part of doing so is making sure you’re doing it the right way – with the right equipment. For example, Ledwell offers three different types of bulk haul delivery systems for feed customers to choose from. Picking the right feed truck or trailer might be the link to your next happy customer. Ledwell offers several versions of unique feed hauling equipment that do one thing … provide you the best feed delivery possible!Ledwell Auger Feed Trailer

 

Ledwell offers two separate floor systems to pick from – Auger and Drag Chain. An Auger system will carry your feed using a corkscrew-like design to move feed through the bottom of the feed body or feed trailer. A Drag Chain floor system works more like a conveyor belt, moving your feed along a pan underneath the compartments. This provides a better-quality pellet by eliminating the cutting a grinding associated with some auger systems. Once the feed has reached the rear of the trailer, the vertical auger and discharge boom use an auger to convey the feed within tubes. It’s important to note that a complete Drag Chain system tends to remain cleaner than a complete Auger system, however, is easier to clean because it’s nooks and crannies are easier to get to.Ledwell Drag Chain Feedbody

 

Both options offer their advantages and disadvantages for each end user, but for larger feed, like range cubes, you almost always want to consider a Paddle Wagon. The floor system installed is a Drag Chain design, so from the start you know the output is going to be of higher quality, and better held together – a fantastic feature for your larger animals. What makes the real difference, however, is the discharge system. A Paddle Wagon uses a paddle style discharge boom instead of the auger. These easily move the pellets through the boom without compromising its form.

 

In the end, the necessary feed equipment depends entirely on the needs of the end user. It’s important to be aware of and understand the subtle differences between the three equipment pieces and to make an educated choice. For more information, visit the Bulk Haul section on our website, or give us a call today!

It’s time to winterize

Ledwell Water Truck winterization

Take a moment to picture yourself on a crisp winter morning. With a cup of warm coffee by your side, you’re bundled from head to toe. In the distance, the rays of the morning sun are creeping over the limbs of a row of steadfast trees as the chirps of birds provide the signal of daybreak—flashes of light dance across the frozen lake. The beauty is mesmerizing – hypnotic even. Suddenly, you’re pulled from your winter wonderland by the realization you need to winterize your equipment! While a frozen lake might look pretty, a burst water line sure does not.

As water freezes, it expands. Because of this, your equipment has to undergo a winterizing process. If water freezes in pipes, it can damage parts of the equipment.

Ledwell Water Truck winterization

There are only a few pieces of Ledwell equipment that utilize a system that includes water. Here’s how to maintain those units through the winter:

Water Trucks:

Close the water intake valve located on the inlet side of the pump on the driver’s side.
Remove the 3” cam lock.
Open the water intake valve.
Locat the primer tank valve above the cam lock and open.
Open all drain cocks.

Note: Leave these valves open to ensure that the system is drained of all possible liquid. Do this after each use if continued throughout the winter or once after its final use of the season before storing.

Vacuum Trucks:

Locate all valves and drain cocks connected to any water system on your specific vacuum unit.
Remove any caps or loosen any drain cocks and allow the remaining water to flow from the system.
Clean any leftover residue from the system.

Note: All vacuum maintenance procedures for water systems are the same and should be performed daily to avoid residue build-up. During colder weather, this will also reduce the risk of freezing.

Make sure your equipment is suitable for the weather conditions present. As a side note, always make sure the type of hydraulic fluid used is appropriate for the climate. Colder weather might call for a lighter, synthetic, or an all-weather fluid. Allow for a warm-up period when turning equipment on.

Remember to read your operation and safety manual to ensure that you are well educated on your equipment’s needs. You can also find operation videos on our YouTube page. Be sure to subscribe to receive updates when new videos premiere.

Making an impact on the industry

ARA Industry Impact Award recognizes Ledwell

This month, the American Rental Association announced new inductees to their hall of fame, along with a few additional awards, including the Industry Impact Award. We are proud to say that Steve Ledwell, the owner of Ledwell, is being recognized as an individual who made significant impact on the rental industry in the last two years. Please read the kind words ARA had to say:

 

This award recognizes a manufacturer supplier and/or independent manufacturer representative rental industry professional who made a significant impact on the association and/or industry during the past two years.

This year’s recipient — Steve Ledwell, owner, Ledwell Manufacturing, Texarkana, Texas — will be recognized during the ARA Industry Awards Lunch at The ARA Show™ in Orlando on Sunday, Feb. 9.

Ledwell and Ledwell Manufacturing are leading by example within their community by supporting various nonprofit organizations both financially and with the contribution of time. They also are strong advocates of workforce development and in November 2018, Texarkana College opened its new Workforce Training Center in honor of the Ledwell family. James Henry Russell, president, Texarkana College, said the Ledwell name in the community is synonymous with excellence, honor and superior work ethic.

Some of the various ways the company has supported the community include: 

The local branch of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) raffled off a tiny house this past spring to raise money for their organization. Ledwell, along with several other businesses in the community, donated time and materials to help build the house.

Watersprings Ranch, a nonprofit organization in Texarkana, Ark., helps children in need and houses almost 50 children at a time on its land. The organization’s largest legacy resides in building safe, educational and happy homes for children who have not had that in their past. Ledwell employees have donated time, resources and more to the children of this facility.

Alzheimer’s Alliance Tri-State assists Alzheimer’s patients and oversees Our Place Day Respite Center to provide help for those living with Alzheimer’s and their families. The group recently organized a function — Over the Edge — in Texarkana, Texas, that raised more than $65,000. The community came together to scale down the walls of a six-story building on the campus of a local university, Texas A&M — Texarkana. Members of the Ledwell team showed their support by participating in the downward climb, raising over $4,000 combined. 

The First Response Team of America contacted Ledwell Manufacturing in 2009. The organization had five pieces of equipment they wanted to fit on one trailer. Steve Ledwell had them bring the equipment to Texarkana and within 24 hours they were working with a team of designers, welders and fabricators to build a custom donated trailer that goes from town to town saving lives and restoring hope for countless storm survivors.

Working every day to provide solutions for our customer’s needs and providing solutions for our community is what Ledwell is about. We have learned from the best! Congrats to our fearless leader, Steve Ledwell.

Lauren Layne

Ledwell December 2019 Employee Spotlight

Your office space can speak a thousand words. It’s like a home away from home for you and your employees. So, why wouldn’t you outfit it in a way that reflects modern comfort? Ledwell Office is a go to place when you need advice on furniture layout and design – specifically, you’ll want to see Lauren Layne. Lauren has been employed with Ledwell Office since its dawning in October of 2012, and has a total of 22 years in the furniture sales industry. Her job is to collaborate with clients to create the ultimate atmosphere for the given clientele, which is perfect for her because she loves to plan!

Lauren’s goal is for her customers to feel accomplished and renewed at the end of an install. Her driving force is meeting the exact goals of the client – all while staying under budget! She’s worked with many schools in the area – one of her favorite aspects of her job – including TASD, TISD, PGISD, LEISD, Redwater, Red Lick, Genoa and even TC and TAMU-T! Each project has its own personality and challenges, bringing interesting angles to Lauren daily. A lot of her time is spent at job sites, measuring spaces or in the office drawing up plans and presentations for her clients.

When Lauren isn’t at work, you might find her pitching in for the community. For the past 13 years, she has put many of her volunteering efforts towards the Kiwanis Organization, where she touches the lives of so many. Her love for her community and the people in it might be why Lauren has proven to be such a perfect fit for her career! She is always putting her best foot forward and making an effort to get the job done, and get it done right. No matter the question, Lauren will figure out the answer! Thanks, Lauren, for all of your hard work and dedication!

Ledwell December 2019 Employee Spotlight

Coming on Strong – and Staying!

Letter from Buddy Ledwell in 1979

Society shifts, but some things just never change. Looking back at some of our old articles, it’s clear that pride and dedication have always been, and still are, at the heart of Ledwell. Better yet, we’ve learned to take what we know and what we do and apply it in a wide variety of industries. A trailer has use anywhere. One truck body structure might be just a single step from the next. We’re doing what we love and loving what we do – and have been for ages! Buddy Ledwell knew the right direction for Ledwell, he says so below in an article from 1978.

 

I’m proud to announce that Ledwell is back doing what we do best … building the nations’ finest truck bodies and equipment. During the early seventies we diversified into many areas and “partner” … I’m here to tell you we’re back on the horse we rode in on.

Diversification may be fine for some folks but it kept us away from the things we know and love the most … building truck bodies and equipment for the industries of agriculture, poultry, livestock, lumber, and transportation.

The 1979 year is looking great. The bays in our workshops are full and the men of Ledwell are back out in the field bringing in the information we need to develop new and improved equipment. It’s paying off and we at Ledwell are proud to be back in the thick of things.

Give us a call for literature on our new product lines … I think you’ll see why Ledwell and Son is coming on strong.

 

After all these years, it turns out he was 100% right. We thrive best in the truck body and trailer industry. We’ve managed to take this skill set and branch out further into the Vacuum, Rental, Material Handling, Construction, Energy, Fire, Waste and Governmental industries. We’ve learned to be diverse, yet stay true to ourselves.

See you in 2020

See you at the show

2020 is right around the corner and we are excited to spend it with you! We will be traveling across the country, from Orlando to Las Vegas, and a few stops in between. We hope to see your smiling face at one of the events. To see where we will be throughout the year, check out the Events page of our site. There you will see events we are attending and places we will be. For now, here are a few upcoming shows. See you real soon!

January 28 – 30 International Production & Processing Expo

February 10 – 12 The Rental Show

March 10 – 14 ConEx