Valmont

Frank Zybach, part-time farmer and part-tinkerer, had hammered together the prototype center pivot in 1947 after viewing a demonstration of hand-moved pipe. During the next several years, he continually modified and refined the basic design to improve its operational efficiency and, in 1954, agreed to license his patent to Bob Daugherty.

Valmont's engineers spent the next several years improving on Zybach's innovative design, making it sturdier, taller, and even more reliable. By the early 1960s, Valmont had overcome most of the design and production problems. A basic improvement was conversion from the original water hydraulic power system to electric drive. Most machines were running on electric power by 1975.

Other "firsts" followed, each reinforcing Valmont's leadership role in this dynamic, young industry. Hot-dip galvanizing was introduced, providing long-term corrosion protection. The company also extended the useful life of the irrigation equipment with the introduction of high-quality drive train components, the most expensive part of the machine. Since 1974, Valmont has built its own gearbox - the only company in the industry to do so - which pivots made by others can utilize as a replacement part.

Valmont introduced corner machines in 1974 to assist in irrigation of square, rectangular and odd-shaped fields. Another development was linear move machines, which Valley pioneered in 1977. Unlike the center pivot, the linear travels straight down the field, making it the preferred mechanized irrigation equipment for long, rectangular fields and heavy soils. It has been particularly successful with the irrigation of grains, forages, fiber crops, vegetables, and vines.

With the energy crisis of the mid-1970s came concern about the cost of operating high-pressure mechanized irrigation equipment. Consequently, Valmont developed a series of low-pressure machines capable of reducing energy costs by up to 80 percent. The company also installed computers in its dealerships to assist sales representatives in designing energy-efficient installations based on an individual farmer's energy costs, crops, and terrain.