TPT July 2016

I NDUS T RY

Rafter Equipment founder to retire RAFTER Equipment Corporation

mills and roll forming machines. In addition, the company has supplied hundreds more mill accessories (weld boxes, turkshead straighteners, etc) as retrofits to existing machines. “I too worked for Yoder for eleven years as a sales engineer,” said Mark Prasek, Rafter VP of sales and marketing. “It was after Walter had already left though. In my time, I essentially was competing with him. In all those years I was only able to beat him once or maybe twice. In those cases, however, I recall there were ‘extenuating circumstances’ that played a part in my minor success. Now at Rafter I can see why he always seemed to run circles around me. He knows the equipment inside and out and he knows what the customer needs.” “Walter always pushed us to maintain a strong, conservative financial position,” said John Hostetler, Rafter CFO. “He always worked to retain quality employees to make it through the ups and downs associated with the manufacturing industry. It was this type of leadership that permitted a company like Rafter to survive years like 2009. As a result Rafter learned how to become more efficient, not only in manufacturing but also in administrative functions. We are a better company now.” “Walter has been an influential and important part of the tube and pipe mill industry for 60 years, and his depth of experience from apprenticeship to ownership is truly an example of the American dream,” said Daniel Whitehill, Rafter president. “I would like to personally thank Walter, Paul Rhode and Jack Brandli for their years of experience and the amount of knowledge they have passed on to me and the rest of the Rafter employees over the years. We will continue the Rafter name under the same principles these men set forth – rugged, dependable equipment and dealing quickly and fairly with our customers’ needs. In addition, Walter will remain on the company board of directors and will still be available for consultation. His company email address will remain active.” Mr Krenz’s influence and contributions to the tube and pipe industry are significant. Although his talents and skills will surely be missed he has paid his dues and has earned the right

Walter Krenz (and below)

has announced the retirement of company founder and former president Walter Krenz. In 1988 Mr Krenz and his two partners (Paul Rohde and Jack Brandli) purchased the Rafter Machine Company and relocated it to the Cleveland, Ohio, USA, area. The company was subsequently renamed Rafter Equipment Corporation. However, Mr Krenz’s story begins well before Rafter Equipment. In 1952, Mr Krenz immigrated to the USA from Germany where he gained both his US citizenship and high- school diploma in 1956. In June of that same year, Mr Krenz was hired by The Yoder Company where he started as a machine apprentice and, thus, began his career in the tube and pipe industry. Over the next four years Mr Krenz obtained his Journeyman Certificate, and by 1961 he was assembling tube and pipe mills. Soon after, Mr Krenz was transferred to Yoder’s engineering department where he designed mill equipment until 1964. Moving to the sales department as a sales engineer, Mr Krenz spent the next six years preparing equipment prices, writing equipment specifications and meeting with tube mill customers. He was then promoted to tube mill sales product manager in 1970. The following year, he was promoted again to assistant plant manager and then plant manager. By 1973, Mr Krenz advanced to vice- president of manufacturing where he served for the next three years. In 1977 he became Yoder’s vice-president of sales and marketing. It is safe to say that Mr Krenz knew tube and pipe mill equipment as well as anybody in the tubing world by this point. In 1986, Mr Krenz and his partners first tried to buy Yoder from then owner The Northern Group, a Seattle investment company, when it was put up for sale. Although unsuccessful, the desire to be his own boss never faded and Rafter Equipment became a reality just two years later, in 1988. With Rafter Mr Krenz and his partners were determined to design new tube and pipe mills that were more robust and operator friendly. They brought a new level of customisation to the industry. Over the past 28 years the company has built well over 100 tube and pipe

to now enjoy himself away from the industry. Well-wishers are encouraged to leave comments for Mr Krenz on the company’s website blog. Rafter Equipment Corporation manufactures tube mills, pipe mills, roll forming machines, cut-off machines, and auxiliary and other related mill machinery. Additional services include rebuilding and upgrading mill equipment. Originally started in 1917, the Rafter name is known for reliable, high-quality tube mill and roll forming equipment. Rafter Equipment Corporation – USA Email: sales@rafterequipment.com Website: www.rafterequipment.com

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J uly 2016