After parting ways with his former employer, Michael Byrne became his own boss. He then grew his business to manufacture its own earth boring machines. How has this business stayed competitive without falling victim to market shifts and tough economies?
They went global.
Recently, Byrne Manufacturing joined with Northeast Ohio Trade & Economic Consortium (NEOTEC) through correspondents from the Richland Community Development Group (RCDG) to export a cradle boring machine to an oil drilling company in Iraq.
Exporting goods to other countries around the world can get tedious at times, but NEOTEC assist companies through the process. They are a private, non-profit organization that essentially acts as a coach in the trading between a American and foreign businesses. Their mission is “providing international trade assistance to promote international commerce, through the development of a world-class logistics system, and through the attraction of foreign direct investment.”
For those of us who are not familiar with the term “earth boring,” the term designates a machine that uses augers and various equipment to drill holes vertically and horizontally into the ground. Michael Byrne Manufacturing manufactures drills, gears, augers, etc. for the underground infrastructure market. The equipment is primarily used for installing water, sewer and gas lines into the ground. These machines are essential for any building project, as lines for water, sewer, and gas usually run underground.
Michael Byrne Manufacturing was founded in Mansfield in 1966 after a man, husband, and father of eight was let go from a secure position in an industrial career.
Byrne Manufacturing employs 23 and has an office building and a warehouse where the equipment is manufactured. Jim Weist has been CEO for Byrne Manufacturing since 2002. Michael Byrne is Weist’s father-in-law and just turned 90-years-old this month.
“He is still a very sharp guy,” said Weist.
“I think part of the reason we are still around is because we really speak and work with our customers. And the quality of our service helps too,” said Weist.
NEOTEC and RCDG still have funds left over from this year to use for small businesses that are interested in foreign trade. For more information on how this can be arranged, call NEOTEC at 330-672-4080 or visit their website. Information can also be found by calling RCDG at 419-755-7234.
