Richmond Brothers Equipment LLC sells sugar beet harvesting parts, in-house tillage tools, and other Michigan-made equipment all over the United States. The fabrication business offers cost-effective solutions and services for Midwest farmers and businesses, said Mike Richmond, who co-owns the shop with his brother, Ken.
“Our fabrication is about 95% agriculture,” Richmond told Michigan Farm News. “It’s grown to the point where we send sugarbeet harvesting parts from Michigan to Alberta, Canada; to the Red River Valley; to Wyoming and Colorado. We send parts wherever sugarbeets are grown—and 30 years ago, we never thought we’d be to that point.”
It all started with a cast-iron disc ripper point. Richmond Brothers now offer 25 different products, including a chisel plow made at the request of Walther Farms.
“We supply products that will help growers increase their efficiency and lower their cost per acre,” said Jason McCallum, manager of Richmond Brothers Equipment. McCallum said new product ideas sometimes come from farmers and customers.
“‘Can you make this?’ they ask,” he said. “We get that question all the time. We then do a cost analysis and see if making the part is worth it in the long run. That’s how many of our products are born.”
That mindset allowed the company to grow its sales by 50 percent each year, according to Michigan Farm News.
“Little things matter, as long as the cost-per-acre is effective,” McCallum said. “I am proud to sell something made in Michigan.”
