Everything Looks Real Good At VMI Operation
By Terry Hoggatt, Managing Editor
Cushing Daily Citizen
Sunday, January 23, 1994
Gene Maitlen, who heads the operation of VMI here, says in a few months he's going to "walk up to Bill Cubbage and say, "I've fulfilled my contract."
When VMI worked with the Cushing Chamber of Commerce and other entities here prior to making the decision to locate in Cushing, one of the stipulations in the "package" Maitlen agreed to is that the industry would stay a minimum of five years.
"We're getting close to that fifth year," Maitlen said. "One of the persons we were working with was Bill Cubbage. I'm going to tell him to give me a piece of paper that says 'Paid in Full.' I think that stipulation is a good idea, by the way. I think it's a good idea to make sure you get something back."
The company's best year was 1990. "Then the economy turned sour," Maitlen said. He added, "Now things are turning around. I'm sure this year will be our best ever. In fact, I'm sure of it. Everything looks real good."
VMI primarily manufactures environmental-related equipment. Dredges are turned out in the factory in the northeast industrial park (near the Fleetwood building). The company also utilizes a "Sludgifier" that is gaining plenty of customers. the equipment is particularly effective for heavily-polluted streams, even if hazardous material is involved.
"What you do," Maitlen says, "is put the apparatus on an excavator boom and mount an engine to power it. You can reach into the area and literally encase the waste. By the time you get clear around it, it sets up like concrete.
"After you enclose the area, you can plant flowers on it."
The Cushing facility, Maitlen says, is "busy all year" We've held our own and now we're looking at hiring more personnel." VMI employs 12 persons at this time, but Maitlen said, "Last year we were building for stock. Now we're getting orders for more projects."
A VMI MINI-DREDGE on the grounds outside the massive building in Cushing's northeast industrial park on Maitlen Drive
Annual payroll at VMI, including commissions, is approximately $200,000. All of VMI's products are constructed here ("unless," Maitlen said, "we use an existing piece of equipment and customize it to a certain need") in the machine shop in the huge building. A parts department allows VMI to ship parts overnight to customers anywhere in the U.S. "It takes a little linger to get parts to a foreign country," Maitlen said.Some of the requests for VMI machinery are from far away places such as Manila, Thailand ("We had to build a special machine for that," Maitlen said) and Saudi Arabia. "We've also done business in Indonesia," said Maitlen. "The Pacific Rim is getting serious about cleaning up the environment. We've also dealt with places in South America."
The Manila request involves a river that, a letter from officials there says, "is nearly dewatered."
"The river is full of sand, mud, pebbles and garbage, " Maitlen siad. "We've been sending information back and forth. It will probably be quite a project."
One piece of equipment that was manufactured at the VMI facility is headed to a Chicago contractor. Maitlen said the firm is the largest of its kind in the world. "We furnish nearly all their dredging equipment," he said. "They buy and lease from us. We have another order that's headed for a big job in Mississippi."
When VMI ships a piece of equipment, a technician goes along to train customers how to operate and maintain the machinery. That technician is sometimes a special person.
"When we go anywhere in the free world, we send on tehnician," Maitlen said. "When we go somewhere someone is apt to shoot you, we send another guy. He's a former Green Beret and he handles those countries. Sometimes he's gotten off an airplane and seen guns pointed at him. He likes that."
Maitlen is proud of all his employees and he has a favorite statement: "When someone wants something, we will build it. We've go the best personnel, bar none, right here in Cushing."
One customer needed a special, two person cab on a certain piece of equipment. "Steve Cantrall (a VMI employee) studied the request, made a design, and we built it," said Maitlen.
A VMI customer wanted a special two person cab for a piece of equipment. Steve Cantrell "studied the request, designed it and we built it," said VMI head man Gene Maitlen, who proudly adds, "If someone wants something, we will build it."
VMI is home to the "nation's largest and oldest mini-dredge company. It's still owned by its original owners," the personable Maitlen says with pride.
The building is also "home" to the largest rental-fleet of dredges in the United States. Mini-Dredge Leasing, Inc. is owned and operated by Gene's sons, Randy and Tony.
"We have a lot of customers who have a short term need for our equipment," Maitlen said. "Maybe just 60 days or so. So, Randy and Tondy formed Mini-Dredge Leasing and their business is doing well. They have their offices right here in the building." He smiled and added, "We sell dredges to them. They're good customers."
"And," Maitlen continued, "Randy and Tony are good workers. They get just as dirty and greasy as anyone."
Maitlen, who advertises his company in a world-wide publication and other trade magazines ("we've got letters and faxes from all over the world," he said), started in the equipment business in Cushing in 1949 in building located on East Main (current location Williams Monument). "I've got over 34 years experience in that type of work," he said.
Gene Maitlen, head of the VMI world-wide operation
He left Cushing and for a time was in a location near Oklahoma City.
Why choose Cushing?
"Because of the Cushing Chamber of Commerce and Industry," he said.
"Where I come from, the chamber there didn't even know we existed. They never visited. There was a vo-tech school nearby and it wasn't even interested in us.
"The Cushing Chamber bent over backwards to help us and to welcome us. Central Vo-Tech (in Drumright) has been very helpful. Our chamber continues to keep in touch with us.
"And, of course, I always wanted to come back to Cushing and live at the old home place (Northeast of Cushing). Randy married a Cushing girl and everything pointed to Cushing.
"My wife and I live on the home place now and we're very happy. It was the wisest decision I've very made."
VMI at this time has "plenty" of room to fulfill current orders. But, Maitlen Said, "We built this facility so we can expand. We could easily wind up triple the size we are now. And I think we will in the future.
A dredge begins taking shape inside the VMI machine shop. The building also houses offices, a break room, conference room, and a parts department that allows the company to shop parts anywhere in the world.
"I have very high hopes."
Industry Spotlight is a monthly venture involving the Daily Citizen and the Cushing Chamber of Commerce Existing Industries Committee.
