Our Story

 

Our Story

In 1972, Gene Maitlen and Bob Vaughn got into the dredge manufacturing business in a Quonset hut near their Case Equipment dealership in Oklahoma City. Bob, Gene, and Randy Maitlen, Gene’s son, decided to become serious about building quality dredges and created Vaughn-Maitlen Industries (VMI), Inc. The VMI, Inc. plant was located in several locations during the next four years until 1976, when the production facilities finally settled in Bethany, Oklahoma. Bigger and better dredges were soon added to the VMI line and a network of distributors was set up. As one of the most recognized dredge manufacturers, VMI, Inc. began to sell VMI dredges worldwide and an international salesman was added to their staff. 

By 1989 VMI had outgrown its current plant capacity and a decision was made to build a new production facility in Cushing, Oklahoma. The new production facility was specifically built for manufacturing dredges. In 1997 Bob Vaughn’s stock was purchased by Gene Maitlen and his two sons, Tony and Randy, making VMI exclusively owned by the Maitlen name. In 2007 VMI's facility was expanded to include additional manufacturing and parts storage space for increased capacity. At the end of 2019 VMI introduced a new logo to better reflect the company name and image going forward. In 2020 VMI's testing and training capabilities were enhanced to improve product innovation and better serve the needs of customers. Additional parts storage capacity was also increased to expand the availability of in stock items. 

VMI is a privately owned and operated business. Cash Maitlen is a 3rd generation Maitlen within the company and proudly serves as the President of the company. Cash grew up fully immersed in the company and has experienced all aspects of the business from sweeping floors to training operators internationally around the globe. Cash has a history designing, developing, troubleshooting, and operating dredges and heavy equipment even collaborating with some of the world's top equipment manufacturers for new product developments. VMI has a proud history in the dredging industry and seeks to continue providing customers worldwide with products and services to solve their dredging and sludge handling needs.