december 23, 2020
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News Advertiser PAGE 5
Bühler Industries to Cease Operations in Vegreville
Buhler Industries will be closing its Vegreville facility next September. (Michelle Pinon/Photo)
Michelle Pinon News Advertiser Vegreville Mayor Tim MacPhee said he did not expect to hear the news that Bühler Industries would be closing down its operation next September. MacPhee said the farm implement manufacturer has been one of the largest employers in town since he’s lived in the community and he did not see the announcement coming. “As far as what will come next or what we could do about it, I’m not sure.” He did say they will be looking at a couple of different angles and be in conversation with the provincial government and the MLA to see if there’s anything that we could do to help them stay or try to find someone else to come into that facility. MacPhee said the original manufacturing business was started in Vegreville by a couple of long-term residents of the community. The founders of the business were John Yakimetz and Eugene Demkiw. Eugene Demkiw said his business partner has since passed away, but they started EZEE-ON in 1960. They manufactured discs, plows, air seeders, and tractor loaders for large acre farmers. “EZEE-ON obtained a patent for a loader that took less than two minutes to install on a farm tractor and two minutes to remove from a tractor. It could be used for other farm uses like tillage. “EZEE-ON was the only loader manufacturer like that in North America. We named our business EZEE-ON because of how easy it was to mount and remove the loader for other use on the farm. To manufacture this equipment we purchased two Blacksmith Shops in town, adding to the two places we had already.” He went on to say, “The first EZEE-ON loader was sold to Mr. Nester Homeniuk from New Kiew, Alberta.” In 1964 Demkiw and Yakimetz built a new plant on what is the current location of Bühler Industries which is located on the west side of Vegreville at 51 Avenue and 62 Street. In 1969 they began manufacturing large
Buhler - CONTINUED ON PAGE 7
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Dan's Quote of The Week
“Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.” - Albert Einstein
