RENVILLE, Minn. — Yes, a strange title; but an Aug. 17 visit with Brandon Wulf, general manager of K&M Manufacturing in Renville, Minn. surprised me. I was taken aback with the size and scope of this facility — squeezed into a four-block area adjoining downtown Renville (population 1,189). And I learned K&M not only provides ‘sitting comfort’ for farmers, but also for thousands of folks with garden tractors, riding lawn mowers, etc.
Along with OEM suspension, replacement static and non-suspension seats, K&M produces tractor LED work lighting, cab interior products, tractor steps, skidsteer plates and attachments, tractor monitor brackets and tractor mirrors.
I expressed my surprise to Wulf —an energetic 41-year old who started in K&M’s sales department. “We’re still making tractor seats and that business is good,” Wulf said, “in fact, still growing. We not only make our own restoration tractor seats, but we are also an aftermarket distributor for a lot of OEM tractor seats — including air-suspension seats which have become very popular. We are in several different markets and provide seating for other equipment including lawn mowers, construction equipment, skid steers and fork lifts. We are now selling all sorts of seats and other products beyond the restoration of tractor seats which launched our growth.”
Wulf admitted tractor seats still dominate K&M’s market. “I don’t have exact data, but wager 60 to 70 percent are tractor seats. Turf equipment is now up to about 10 percent; the construction industry getting the remaining 20 percent or so. Yes, seats for equipment are big for us; but we manufacture other products such as tractor mirrors, tractor steps and reinforced rock boxes for mounting on tractor fronts.”
“About five years ago we started manufacturing and assembling log splitters for our parent company, Great Northern Equipment,” Wulf continued. “That too keeps growing. Then, not even a year later, we started assembling garden tillers when GNE acquired a tiller company and moved that production to our Renville facility. Yes, these new products generate increased production hours and parts acquisitions too … which is adding up to more space being needed.”
In light of the pandemic and economy, with more people staying at home, garden tillers have been a plus for K&M. “The last 18 months garden tiller sales have been very good,” Wulf admitted, “and likely to continue. As more people elect to work from their homes, garden work is becoming an important necessity.”
Even with an extensive existing product line, research and development play a large role in K&M’s future plans. “Several people are involved in R&D here at Renville,” said Wulf, “all of whom play an integral part in the development of a new product. We have a broad dealer base (over 3,500 dealers across the country) generating an extensive customer base also. Nothing better than our dealers, and their customers sharing new ideas on something that just maybe could be added to our manufacturing capabilities. Plus, I’ve got some farmers on staff here so there’s a never-ending mix of new ideas. That’s a big part of what keeps K&M a vibrant company. I doubt the ‘new idea’ fountain will ever run dry around here.”
Wulf received his Sales and Marketing degree at Ridgewater College, just up the road at Willmar, Minn. After attending four-year state colleges in Mankato and Marshall, Wulf began his 11-year stint at K&M. With his business background, I asked Wulf if he had concerns for the U.S. economy. “A growing economy benefits us because we have such a diversified product line and our buying audience is getting even more diversified,” he responded. “Farmers are still our bread and butter so to speak; but that non-farmer market keeps growing. Plus we’ve got products for new tractors and older tractors too.”
What new product is K&M’s current best seller? “LED lighting has exploded!” replied Wulf. “Many new and older tractors come with halogen lights … head lights, work lights. We upgrade them to LED lighting … specific kits for these new tractors. These are plug-in ready lights.”
Wulf added John Deere continues to be K&M’s number-one market. “John Deere leads the parade,” he said. “We offer seats for John Deere tractors dating back to the 1950’s era. The Sound Guard series of mid to late 70’s are still some of the most popular seats we sell.
K&M currently employs 65 people at the Renville facility and could be looking to add six to eight more. “As everyone knows these days, hiring new is a growing struggle,” said Wulf. “Our 15 to 20 percent yearly growth has been the pace for some time now. Our work day starts at 7 a.m. with a 4:30 p.m. shut down. Production staff leaves at noon on Fridays.”
“Right now, because of the world-wide pandemic, supply issues and the rising cost of materials are a concern,” Wulf continued. “We’re sitting on lots of back orders. These days, shipping containers are difficult to get your hands on … and shipping costs are crazy. Also, some of our parts come from overseas suppliers which adds to concerns.”
Wulf wrapped up our conversation saying GNE’s diverse product line keeps K&M optimistic for the future. GNE has a strong export market with Canada and is making inroads into Europe just a bit. As GNE continues to expand its product line, Wulf expects K&M to be part of those expansions. “Log splitters are a good example,” he said. “right now we’re up to six lines of log splitter fabrications and five different lines of garden tillers. Yes, this drought and higher production costs for farmers is tightening farm income right now. But thanks to our diversity, I don’t think we’ll feel any particular pinch.”
