Corridor Native Fall 2018

INNOVATIVE
Kinze
Manufacturing
steers ahead
of the curve
BY ANGELA HOLMES
PHOTOS BRIAN DRAEGER
Susanne Veatch, Kinze Manufacturing
president and chief marketing officer,
carries on the values her father, Jon
Kinzenbaw, set when he started the
company in 1965.
Although much has changed in the agriculture
and manufacturing industries since
1965 when Jon Kinzenbaw opened a small
welding shop, the core values of his business
remain the same.
The welding shop evolved into Kinze
Manufacturing, one of the largest privately
held agricultural equipment manufacturers
in North America. Based in Williamsburg,
Kinze continues to innovate based on the
needs of its primary customer base – farmers.
“We still rub shoulders with farmers and
dealers; that doesn’t change with technology,”
said Kinzenbaw’s daughter, Susanne
Veatch, who has served as Kinze Manufacturing’s
president and chief marketing officer
since 2016. “He founded the company on
five core values [integrity, customer focus,
excellence, innovation and mutual respect]
and that’s how we define our culture.”
KEEPING AHEAD OF THE TIMES
Ever since Kinzenbaw built the first auger-unloading
grain wagon in 1967, innovation
has always been a trademark of Kinze’s
business model. He has been named inventor
on 19 issued patents, including his most
well-known product – the rear-fold planter
introduced in 1975.
“Dad created solutions for farmers,”
Veatch said. “We all bring different things
to the table.”
Kinzenbaw isn’t the only one who comes
up with ideas, however. The company encourages
ideas from employees, dealers and
farmers, and even has a “Submit Your Idea”
section on its website.
14 CORRIDOR NATIVE FALL 2018