One of Indiana's youngest ag equipment manufacturing companies says business is strong. In fact, Matt Hays, Equipment Technologies, Mooresville, makers of Apache Sprayers, says their building capacity for the entire year was nearly sold out within the first two weeks of taking orders for '09 sprayers back in August.

That's good news for the 11-year old company that continues to concentrate on one product- self-propelled sprayers. They make three models, with the newest released this year. It's the AS715, replacing the 710 model. "It features a 750 gallon tank and fits that person who needs more than a 400 gallon-tank some competitors offer, but less than a 1,000 or 1,200 gallon tank most others offer," says Kevin Covey, also of Equipment Technologies. ET also sells the 1010 with a 1,000 gallon tank and the 1210 model with a 1,200 gallon tank. About 80% of the parts are interchangeable between the models, Covey notes.

With a few exceptions, the plant at Mooresville is by and large an assembly plant. ET works with some 90 suppliers, including their engine supplier, Cummins of Columbus, who prepare components for them. Then the components are assembled at Mooresville, and finally each individual unit, like the frame, drive train, cab, boom and product tank are assembled there. An average of roughly two sprayers per work day roll out of the plant daily.

Part of their success relates to quality control, Covey believes. It takes six to seven hours for a machine to be fully checked out after it's built by a staff devoted solely to quality control. The hydraulic controls, for example, are tested 10 separate times before the sprayer gets a green light to head onto a truck for delivery to a dealer.

Asked if the credit crunch was affecting agriculture, Hays assured visitors to the plant last week that it was not impacting the availability of Equipment Technologies to obtain funds and operate. The company does not provide financing for retailers. However, it does endorse three leading, solid companies that specialize in ag lending, who work with retailers and customers.

About the only effect so far is an increase in interest rates, starting several weeks ago, especially in the retail segment, he notes. That's because there was a short time where ag lenders, even though they were on very solid ground, weren't certain about what they would have to pay for the money they would obtain to lend out to farmers and agribusinesses. However, that fear has subsided and rates are inching back, ET's president says.

Equipment Technologies employs just over 40 people, including sales staff. Only two employees have moved on in the past five years, both for personal reasons. ET officials say a solid, stable workforce also helps them operate successfully, turning out a price-competitive, quality product.