Story Preview - Buhler to Cease Operations

Bühler Industries to Cease Operations in Vegreville

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.”

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