About Hoffmann Company: Built To Last

Since that starting position with the company, Kris strived to enhance her skill set through years of working in accounting, safety, human resources, project management, business development, and operations management. “All of these past jobs and experiences allowed me to gain a better insight into the day-to-day needs of the company and our customers,” Kris explains.

Larry transitioned ownership of the company to his daughter, Kris, and son, Andy in 2012. Together they managed the four divisions of the company (Concrete Silo and Chimney Construction, Steel Fabrication and Industrial Services, Wolf Material Handling Systems, and Airoflex Equipment) through 2015. It was in December 2015 that Kris became sole owner and President of Hoffmann, Inc.

What is the reason for Hoffmann’s longevity? Kris believes it’s because she and her family trust in God and Christian principles, take risks, when necessary, strive to always provide a quality product, and hire great, hard-working people! Given the fact that nearly 50% of the company’s business comes from repeat customers, it’s clear that Hoffmann’s employees place a high value on customer relationships – some of which span more than 30 years.

At the end of the day, however, the company’s strategy for success is fairly simple: offer quality products at a competitive price, provide a safe work environment, deliver on time, and treat customers with respect.

For six years, Larry and Sam were partners of S.J. Hoffmann, each owning 50% of the business. When Sam wanted to retire, Larry bought his share of the business. Soon after he became the sole owner of the business the farm recession of 1981 hit, and he and the company fell on hard times. But he did not intend to let this recession take him down, so he went on the road selling larger-diameter grain storage to grain cooperatives. That year Larry sold four large projects and managed each project to save his business.

After the struggles in the farm market, Larry realized that the key to success was a diverse product line and customer base. The cyclical nature of the commercial grain market would require him to look for work in other industries that could utilize upright storage, like coal, ash, limestone, wood, and other commodities.

In the mid-1980’s, Hoffmann Silos started constructing concrete chimneys for power-generating facilities as well. To keep up with the demands for constructing silos and chimneys, Larry built another silo-building rig and purchased four additional rigs from silo businesses that had gone out of business. Mr. Emmert also bought some slipform equipment from a company in Des Moines which enabled them to construct square and rectangular stair towers in the boiler buildings of paper mills.

As Larry continued to expand his business, he recognized the advantages of supplying the fabricated steel components required for Hoffmann’s silo and chimney projects. In 1990, he began fabricating out of a small bay in their maintenance building. But by 1993, construction had begun on a 15,000-square-foot fabrication facility to provide products for Hoffmann projects as well as for outside customers. Then in 2004, Hoffmann built a 30,000 square feet addition to their fab shop which includes a blast shop and paint booth.

Later that year, Larry was approached about buying Wolf and Associates, a small engineering firm specializing in the design and supply of equipment to handle bulk materials, especially wood chips and wood waste. Located in Elk River, Minnesota, and renamed Wolf Material Handling Systems, the firm had little business, but it had a substantial backlog of potential projects. After struggling for a few years, they finally negotiated a contract to design and supply the fuel yard equipment on the largest wood-fired power plant in the United States.

Many of Wolf’s larger projects include truck dumpers and receiving hoppers. In the spring of 2010, Larry, along with his children, Andrew and Kristin (minority owners) purchased a small truck dumper company that was going out of business in Roseville, Minnesota. This company, Air-O-Flex Equipment Co., had a spare parts business but had not sold a new truck dumper for 5 years. A week after the purchase agreement was signed, Airoflex Equipment sold two truck dumpers, and it continued to grow.

Diversification proved to be so vital to the company’s longevity and success. If Larry hadn’t accepted change and sought new ideas Hoffmann wouldn’t be here today. Hindsight is 20/20, but it takes vision and faith in the quality of your products to diversify successfully.

Larry Emmert, grandson of founder S.J. Hoffmann, has provided leadership through good times and bad and was the driving force behind Hoffmann, Inc.’s survival and success for over 50 years.