By SUSAN MYKRANTZ
Ohio Correspondent

BLUE BALL, Pa. — M.H. EBY started out as a small woodworking and chair shop located in Blue Ball, Pa. that was purchased by Menno H. Eby Sr. in 1938.
Only a few years later, he doubled the shop size and began to manufacture wood and steel livestock bodies, finding a niche market with customers who appreciated the quality and custom features included in his products. When his son, Menno H Eby Jr. took over the company upon his father’s retirement in 1972, he pioneered the switch of the EBY product line to aluminum and set the standard for aluminum agri-transportation equipment.

Today, EBY remains family-owned and operated, with M Travis and Nick Eby, the third generation of EBYs to take on the challenges of keeping the company at the forefront of agri-transportation market.

They manufacture gooseneck and bumper pull livestock trailers, semi livestock trailers, bulk commodity live-floor trailers, horse trailers, truck bodies and utility trailers. They also service and sell Timpte grain trailers, Great Dane refrigerated trailers, Coyote equipment trailers and CarMate enclosed trailers
EBY products are sold throughout the United States and Canada through strong dealer networks and factories, each serving a specific need for their customers. In addition to trailers, EBY manufactures all aluminum truck bodies for agriculture, landscape (commercial and residential) and industrial applications.
The company’s headquarters and manufacturing plant is located in Blue Ball, Pa. Built in 1984, the state of the art 55,000 square foot plant manufactures standard and non-standard trailers and bodies for the agricultural and equine markets. It is also a retail sales center, selling the full line of EBY equipment and marketing and servicing Timpte bulk commodity grain trailers and Great Dane Super Seal refrigerated trailers. All products sold at the Pennsylvania facility are supported by a full service shop and fully stocked parts department.
In 1990, M.H. EBY opened a new manufacturing and sales facility in West Jefferson, Ohio to supply a growing demand for standard livestock trailers. This modern and expanded facility now totals 25,000 square feet. In addition to manufacturing trailers to 26-foot in length, the Ohio location distributes the full line of products, as well as providing repair service and parts, sale and services Timpte bulk commodity trailers.

This location allows EBY continue to expand its market through a growing dealer network, supported with a full line of agri and equine transportation equipment and factory-trained product and sales specialists to assist customers and dealers.

In the Spring of 2005, EBY opened a third facility in Story City, Iowa to better serve the Midwest and Western markets, providing products, service and parts to existing and new customers in the Midwest. In addition, this new, efficient 33,000 square foot operation will be building EBY’S increasingly popular Bull-Ride and Trans-Pork series punch-panel semi-livestock trailers.

In addition to supplying customers in the United States and Canada, EBY equipment can also be exported internationally through ports in Philadelphia, Pa., Baltimore, Md., and Newark, N.J.

EBY’S innovative products backed by quality and durability makes them a leader in the design and construction of standard and custom aluminum livestock and equine transportation equipment. Their aluminum transportation equipment is recognized for their competitive empty weights, durable construction, attractive appearance and advanced designs.

“Our agriculture industry is constantly under pressure to produce the world’s safest and most economical food supply,” said Kirk Swensen, regional sales manager for M.H. EBY.

Swensen said their business is no different. “We are continually searching for opportunities where we can enhance and improve our products, while keeping them affordable for our customers,” he said.  “With each purchase, our goal is to provide our customers with the most value.” 

Swensen said events such as the Power Show are beneficial to both customers and exhibitors. “Trade shows give you an opportunity to get your product in front of several potential customers in a short period of time,” he said. “They also provide an environment where those customers can touch and feel the products that they have been looking at in print advertising or online.  But above all else, it gives both parties the opportunity to meet face-to-face, answer questions and get to know one another.”

Eby locations and contact information:

•Pennsylvania: P.O. Box 127, 1194 Main St., Blue Ball, PA 17506; P) 800-292-4752 or 717-354-4971, F) 717-355-2114

•Iowa: P.O. Box 156, 1708 Eby Dr., Story City, IA 50248; P) 866-894-3297 or 515-733-5207, F) 515-733-5262

•Ohio: P.O. Box 137, 4435 St. Rt. 29, West Jefferson, OH 43162; P) 800-752-0507 or 614-879-6901, F) 614-879-6904; www.mheby.com