Everett Stockton

Ledwell Employee Spotlight - July 2020

Since 1999, we have been fortunate to have an amazing craftsman working with us. Everett Stockton was hired to work in our Paint Department. After about four years he transferred to the Truck Shop. His knowledge and skills have been a huge asset in building Water and Dump Trucks – This is why we have chosen him as this month’s Employee Spotlight.

Everett has two sons and two dogs an Australian Shepard and Pit Bull. In his spare time, Everett likes to play golf and fish. If you were to ask one of Everett’s coworkers to describe him in a few words, they would tell you that he’s friendly, hardworking, and dependable. Working together with his team is something he does on a regular basis. One of his favorite Ledwell projects over the last two decades was working on a double pump for a 6,000-gallon Water Tank. “It was challenging but I learned a lot from the experience,” Everett said.

When referring to his job, Everett used the word family several times. He enjoys his job and is thankful for the friendships he has made here at Ledwell over the years and hopes to retire in a few years. Thank you, Everett, for your dedication and service to Ledwell. We appreciate all you do!

Steve Fant

Ledwell June 2020 Employee Spotlight

Our June Employee Spotlight is a devoted employee at Ledwell Machinery, Steve Fant. He has been with Ledwell for almost 9 years as a small engine repairman for our machinery location. Steve is happily married to his wife Angie, and they have 4 children. He has 6 dogs that are considered part of the family. He loves to play pool in his spare time.

Steve can be described as patient, dedicated, and friendly. One of the most challenging obstacles Steve encounters with his day to day job is communication. Although, he has learned a great deal from the different perspectives of his colleagues.

One of Steve’s favorite things about working at Ledwell Machinery is he never gets bored. “There’s always plenty to do.” He takes pride in working with a company that is loyal and puts quality first. Steve has enjoyed being a part of the growth of Ledwell Machinery over the years. Watching everything develop into what it is now has been rewarding. From the customers to the product line – it has been a gift to experience. Thank you, Steve, for your dedication!

Hayden Hall

Employee Spotlight for Ledwell May 2020

Hayden Hall has been an employee at Ledwell for almost seven years. Since starting with Ledwell, Hayden has worked in the Tank Shop, Feedbody Shop, and Break and Shear. His talents in welding landed him a place in our Special Projects Department, building some of our unique products for customers.

After graduating from high school, he joined the United States Army and completed four years of active duty service. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time in the outdoors and building knives.

If asked, a friend might describe Hayden as hard-working, honest, and friendly. The most challenging part of Hayden’s day to day is keeping up with the demand here at Ledwell. He said, “I’ve learned over the years at Ledwell that if you continue to work hard each day, you will see the benefits of your hard labor unfold.”

Hayden is married, and they have two dogs. A pitbull-lab mix and a corgi-beagle mix. One of Hayden’s lifetime goals is to attend the Sigma 3 Survival School. This is an intensive training course to teach you how to survive in the wilderness with minimal tools available.

First and foremost, thank you for your service! We appreciate your hard work and dedication, Hayden.

Jack Kokko

Ledwell Emp Spotlight April 2020

April’s Employee Spotlight is a motivated employee who works in our Maintenance Department and is vital to our operations. Jack Kokko has been a dedicated employee at Ledwell for five years, and we don’t know what we would do without him!

Before working at Ledwell, Jack’s most exciting job was cleaning pizza ovens all over the United States. He enjoys working at Ledwell and describes the company as loyal, personal, and dedicated. Jack appreciates having the resources available so that he can do his job well. “You don’t have that luxury everywhere you work.” Using those resources, he was able to put a new roof on the Feedbody Shop in one day. That’s why he considers it one of his favorite projects over the years.

He is married to Olivia, and they have a son, Samuel. They have two pit bull dogs that are a part of the family. He enjoys coaching sports, fishing with his family, and watching all types of races. Jack’s motto is “send it – don’t hold back!” He enjoys participating in the Dragon Boat Races every year. He is part of the three-time Ledwell champion team, The Bootleggers. Jack loves the Texas Rangers, Dallas Mavericks, and Indiana Colts.

Thank you, Jack! We appreciate everything you do around the facility.

Ledwell Emp Spotlight April 2020

Winning at Innovation: Ledwell Solar Lift Loading Ramp

Solar Loading Ramp by ledwell
Solar Loading Ramp by ledwell

If you are looking for the next innovative piece of equipment – look to Ledwell! Our Solar Lift Loading Ramp is the 2020 Innovative Product Award, Miscellaneous Category winner – presented by RER Magazine.

During a typical workday, the goal is usually to get the most done, in the shortest amount of time and in the most organized way possible. Efficiency is key. The revolutionary Ledwell Solar Loading Ramp is built for just that. If you’ve ever wished you could cut out the lengthy process of lifting your ramp via hand-crank then this is the perfect addition to your arsenal. We’ve managed to give your ramp the capability to harness the power of the sun, so you don’t have to work so hard. Simply connect our Solar Panel to your ramp’s battery system, charge it, and then flip a switch and allow your Solar Lift to do the rest. It’s the easiest way to find the perfect angle for the job at hand.

Maybe you already have a perfectly good Ledwell Loading Ramp, All-Weather or Standard, and wished you had the opportunity to upfit your ramp. Well, you do! We can upfit any current Ledwell Loading Ramp with a Solar Lift Kit and voila, you have your very own Solar Lift Ramp!

The Ledwell staff had heard from many customers that drivers frequently had difficulty lining up the height of the trailer when they backed up their vehicle to a loading dock. “They need to move it up or down to match the trailer height because you don’t want to jump some mower off the ramp,” says Steve Ledwell. “Some drivers either don’t wish to run them up and down because it’s a little work, or some literally can’t physically do it anymore for whatever reason. So, we came up with this plan to put a solar panel and put a switch on it. You pull a switch and it goes up or you pull a switch and it goes down. And now we have a ramp that can go up and down easily, so drivers more easily get it correct. It’s safer and easier for the drivers, it’s safer on the load and this way drivers don’t mind spending a few extra seconds to match up the height because it’s not hard.”

Ledwell emphasizes the safety benefits of the solar ramp. “The drivers are taking a chance not matching up right,” he says. “The driver will take a machine and try to drive it on a ramp that’s either six inches too low for the trailer or six inches too high because they didn’t want to crank it anymore. So, this is a much safer and easier solution.”

We are beyond proud of the team that made this new ramp operation a success. To read the entire article go to rermag.com.

Learn more about upgrading your Ledwell ramp with a solar lift kit.

Partnership leads to new tracked hydroexcavator

hydro excavation system from Ledwell

In 2019, we had the opportunity to manufacture one of our vacuum tanks combined with a crawler carrier that could change an industry.

This project was similar to others- taking an idea and turning it into reality.

To provide a solution.

In Ledwell fashion, we ran towards the opportunity.

The Opportunity

When a hydro-excavation contractor needs to perform work in hard-to-reach or environmentally sensitive areas such as swamps or marshes, it is often difficult to use large trucks.

Mats can sometimes be placed down for the trucks to drive over to protect the environment from any damage the heavy machines may cause.

Those mats are heavy, bulky, and expensive, though, and they take additional time to utilize.

hydro excavation system from Ledwell

The Solution

However, through a collaborative effort with Ledwell & Son, PRINOTH and Pipeline & Utility Rental Equipment (PURE), the pipeline and utility industries have a new tool to make digging easier.

The TrakVac is a compact hydro excavator built by Ledwell and mounted on a PRINOTH crawler carrier buggy. It combines the agility of a crawler carrier to access hard-to-reach areas with low-impact vacuum technology where traditional digging is more difficult, especially close to underground utilities and pipelines.

The idea was to get a more compact hydro-excavation unit into some of the harder-to-reach or environmentally sensitive areas of pipeline construction.

“The total package of hydroexcavation with the ability to ‘Go Anywhere’ (which is PRINOTH’s slogan) makes the TrakVac a true initiative and an answer to the growing demands of the pipeline industry,” says Gary Gathright, Ledwell engineer.

An industry first, the TrakVac provides a solution for unique job sites. After countless hours of engineering, manufacturing, and perfecting, we are proud to share this innovation with the world.

Dig Different’s March issue features this unique machine as a Product Spotlight. Read more about it in Dig Different’s Product Spotlight.

Lube Buddy Provides Service On the Go

Ledwell Service Skid - Manufactured in America

When you’re on the go, working a time-sensitive job, or just looking for convenience, you need access to service equipment fast. Ledwell has your quick solution to perform in-the-field equipment PM service and maintenance with a portable service skid – Lube Buddy.

Our Lube Buddies provide an easy and efficient way for you to keep your equipment serviced and ready to go. This equipment can be utilized as a mobile unit or serve as a stationary portable maintenance center at the job site!

Our Lube Buddy, Jr. is suited for light-duty vehicles. Its smaller stature makes it lighter, and easy to move from location to location. Convenient to place. Allows for easy access to air, fresh fluids, and properly dispose of waste. This piece of equipment comes with spill and overflow pans to minimize mess, and non-corrosive pipe fittings to ensure longevity.

If you’re searching for something a little more heavy-duty, we’ve got you covered.

This Lube Buddy option can turn any of your medium-duty hauling vehicles into a skid-mounted, self-contained fuel and lube service center! Much like the Lube Buddy, Junior, the Lube Buddy Max is designed in such a way to prevent excessive spillover and ensure a long lifespan.

Easily move these units with a forklift. Place on a level surface to avoid any spills and to ensure proper operation. Be sure to always read the accompanying operators’ manuals in regard to all pieces of equipment you own.

To learn more about the Lube Buddy, Jr. or Lube Buddy Max and other service equipment, visit our Service Truck page.

Ledwell Mobile Lube Service Center with Compressor
Ledwell Lube Buddy Jr

SMART Feed System Enhances Drop Deck Auger Feed Trailer

Ledwell Smart Bulk Haul Trailer

In today’s bulk feed delivery industry, drivers and operators truly need a trailer that can handle every aspect of the job seamlessly. From safety and performance to bio-security, capacity, and technological automation, the demands on feed transportation equipment have never been greater.

Recognizing this need, Ledwell has risen to the challenge by designing and building a trailer that not only meets but exceeds the demands for safety, performance, bio-security, capacity, and technological automation.

Combining our proven expertise with cutting-edge innovations, we’re proud to introduce the Ledwell SMART Feed System.

At the heart of the Ledwell SMART Feed System lies a combination of innovative components meticulously engineered to deliver unparalleled performance and efficiency. Building upon the success of Ledwell’s Drop Deck Auger Feed Trailer, the SMART system upgrade introduces key elements such as the Transducer, Brain, and SMART Valve.

The Transducer serves as the system’s sensory organ, tracking pressure fluctuations with remarkable precision. Its ability to operate at the speed of light ensures instantaneous response to changes in loading conditions. Upon detecting pressure variations, the Transducer converts this data into an electrical signal, which is then relayed to the Brain.

The Brain, acting as the central processing unit of the SMART Feed System, interprets the incoming signals from the Transducer and formulates an appropriate response. Leveraging sophisticated algorithms, the Brain calculates the optimal adjustments required to maintain a consistent pressure throughout the unloading process. This real-time feedback loop ensures maximum efficiency and reliability, even in dynamic operational environments.

Facilitating the Brain’s instructions is the SMART Valve, a marvel of engineering designed to regulate flow rates with unparalleled accuracy. By precisely modulating the flow of feed based on input from the Brain, the SMART Valve maintains a fixed pressure, guaranteeing uniform delivery and maximizing flow.

Experience the future of feed delivery today with the Ledwell SMART Feed System – where precision meets performance, and reliability knows no bounds.

Let us build the perfect trailer for your needs and usher in a new era of efficiency and productivity in bulk feed transportation.

Ledwell Drop Deck Bulk Haul with Smart System

Robotic Welder Plays Key Role in Production

Training on Robot Welder

In the industrial world, a big word is efficiency – especially when it comes to manufacturing. One needs to be able to get parts, pieces, and products out fast and accurately. People are and will always be the key, but sometimes they need a little help to keep up with customer demands. That’s why Ledwell would like to introduce you to a new addition to our team – our Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) Robotic Welder.

Our Robotic Welder is currently being used to produce over 30 types of parts – for example, our hydraulic cylinders.

We’ve decreased the time it takes to weld together a cylinder in half due to this innovation. The robot program knowledge is growing and soon will handle the output of our most highly produced parts.

This machine can move roughly three to four times faster than the average person with the accuracy and precision Ledwell requires. Where it might take a person 20 minutes to weld a single part, it would take the robot five.

The operator has two options in controlling this machine. They can either control it Offline, meaning they present a 3D model and provide commands, or they can teach the machine and guide its every movement. Either way, the Robotic Welder is non-stop.

The continuous movement is really what gives the machine an extra edge and makes it cool to watch!

Follow us on social media and you might see it in action.

 

CNC Robotic Welder
Program training on Robot Welder

First Response Team of America Responds to Natural Disasters

Ledwell Trailer loaded with First Response Team of America fleet equipment

In the face of devastating weather, communities unite, finding strength in support and assistance. When the worst strikes, the First Response Team of America emerges as a beacon of hope, dedicated to the task of rebuilding shattered lives and communities.

Their commitment knows no bounds as they meticulously track storm systems, anticipating their path and positioning themselves strategically to spring into action at a moment’s notice. With unwavering resolve, they work hand in hand with meteorologists and local authorities, ensuring a coordinated response that maximizes impact and efficiency.

Ledwell Trailer loaded with First Response Team of America fleet equipment

But their mission extends beyond mere response; it’s about restoration and renewal. In the aftermath of chaos, they bring much-needed aid, working tirelessly to pave the way for recovery and resilience.

At the heart of this remarkable effort lies individuals like their founder, Tad Agoglia, whose dedication and compassion inspire others to join in their noble cause.

Together, they embody the spirit of hope and resilience, proving that even in the darkest of times, there is light to guide the way forward.