Reinke, the Nebraska-based manufacturer of mechanized irrigation systems and over-the-road trailer/chassis equipment, was assessing damage of its 50-acre plant Tuesday after a series of tornadoes ripped through Deshler
Sunday evening.
According to Bob Friehe, Reinke president, the east end of the main trailer/chassis production building was damaged, a corner of the roof on the east end of the main office building was partially lifted up and several overhead doors on other buildings were blown off.
Despite the structural damage, he expects the company to be able to ship orders by end of this week.
"The company’s irrigation manufacturing division survived the storm with relatively little damage, and we should resume our same pace of total plant production within days," Friehe said. "We’ve contacted our territory managers and dealers to inform them on our production status and ensure them that the storm will not impact our shipping ability for the upcoming busy season. We have a strong executive team in place that is currently assessing the damage and implementing a strategy to get the plant up and running as quickly as possible."
Friehe said the company’s irrigation and trailer/chassis parts inventories were not damaged.
Reinke has more than 300 employees, who were all accounted for and were not hurt in the storm.
The plant was closed Tuesday and remains closed today, and insurance agents and construction crews are on site.
In the meantime, Reinke dealers will continue to take orders and assist customers at the more than 160 irrigation dealerships and 29 trailer dealerships across the U.S. and Canada.
For more information, visit www.reinke.com.