Agri-Industries Corporation was founded in 1975 as a manufacturer of agricultural equipment such as bale wagons and header carts. As the years passed and the economy changed, Agri-Industries Corporation has grown and changed as well, and today, they've developed an impressive reputation for building trailers, truck beds, all types of metal fabrication, and customer service that is second to none. Owner Wendell Ashcraft took some time from his busy schedule to provide us with this briefing on how his company's evolved;
I used to do a lot of what we are doing now out of my garage on a part-time basis for about fifteen years. After sustaining an injury in August of 1999, I decided it was time for me to run my own business and I took over Agri-Industries later that year. I used to be a bridge welder and am certified in forty-eight states for bridge construction and API (high) pressure pipe line work. With the assistance of my helper Edgar Ashcraft who's a U.S. Navy certified welder, we've grown into metal fabrication, manufacturing trailers and truck beds, installing hitches and fifth wheels, repairing trailers, electrical, brake controllers, and we hang a lot of structural steel.
We build our normal run trailers for our dealers throughout Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Maryland, and we build customized trailers for individuals and companies. A lot of our customized trailers are for hauling stock cars, race cars, and motorcycles but we custom build for all types of specific needs. For example, for a couple who raise and sell miniature donkeys, we built them a small sheet side trailer with partitions inside for the donkeys, and, for the U.S. military, we've built custom trailers setup with outriggers and platforms for telecommunications for use in Egypt during the Gulf War. Although we don't normally build enclosed trailers, we do build compartment boxes and beds for utility trucks. We have the capabilities to design the trailers in our shop or we can build to our customers' specs or blueprints.
Agri-Industries Corporation does a lot of work on new buildings from material acquisition to hanging the steel, bolting it together, and doing the welding. Giant Eagle has been putting gas stations in some of their locations, and, so far, we've worked on four of them.
We fabricate custom piece parts for several local companies providing them with the custom made or welded pieces they use to keep their operations running. The parts can range from one hundred pieces of four by six steel with custom bends to a single new part to replace one that has broken. We build whatever they need and ship it to wherever they need it.
From November until the end of January is usually a slow time for building and manufacturing trailers, so, that's when we get busy doing a lot of trailer repair work. We repair axles, redo wiring, brakes, and make custom additions to our trailers and trailers from other manufacturers. We still do a lot of repair work for local farmers such as repairing their stainless milking containers and we're always involved with a building project like the church in Elyria where we put in all the red iron, stairs, and steps. We handle work for local oil field companies and we're equipped to paint trailers and other items.
We work both on-site and in our shop and we strive to have our projects completed on time. If our customers have a piece of equipment that needs repair work and it has to be ready the following morning, we'll even work after hours to help keep them on schedule. That's the type of customer service you can be proud of!
From specialty trailers to hanging structural steel and fabricating custom solutions, Agri-Industries Corporation has the experience and skill to keep your project on time and running smoothly. Call Wendell Ashcraft at Agri-Industries Corporation to discuss your needs today and don't forget to tell him that The Advocate sent you!
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