Two Farmers -- One Brilliant Idea

The concept was simple: a drive-over auger for hopper bottom trailers. . .better yet, a unit that transports with the auger. It would make unloading grain faster! It would make farming easier! One brilliant idea that no one else had invented. . .yet.

Brent and Steve Mast were farmers. They knew it would work but who was making them? No one.

They really weren’t out to start a business. All they wanted was to fill a need on their own farm. Luckily, the brothers had a talent for metal fabrication with skills in welding. They went to work and built their own, the first-ever “Pit Express”.

It made sense. A farmer could simply drive up and unload without having to position the swing hopper. It was easy. It was exactly what they needed. And then it happened. Others wanted one. Lots of others!

After receiving two patents, the Mast brothers sold their first three units in 2002. Their old cattle barn became their new metal fabrication shop.
The next year they sold sixteen units. They purchased equipment to speed up the process, even building some of it themselves.

In 2008, Brent and Steve bought a building in Payson, converting it into a paint shop. They built a shot blast facility, a wash station, and installed an electristatically-charged paint system. They purchased an oven and the process was complete. The “Pit Express” would not only work exceptionally well, the unit would look spectacular with a powder-coated finish.

In the farm equipment manufacturing business, planning ahead is key. “Fifty-percent of our sales are from August 1 through October 15,” says Steve. Brent and Steve couldn’t do it alone. They had to hire help.

Today, Mast Productions, Inc. employs four full-time employees, Gary Mast, Scott McEntee, Steve Reynolds, and Tony Huber, and four seasonal employees. Judy Klingele works in the office part-time.

“Semis with hopper bottom trailers are becoming popular with the increase in capacity of combines,” explains Brent. “A straight truck can carry 350 bushels, a tandem around 600 bushels, but a semi can haul 950 bushels.”

The Pit Express allows farmers to take full advantage of their hopper bottom trailers, moving the grain from the trailer to the grain bin faster than ever before. Mast Productions has introduced seven models ranging from 5,000 bushels per hour up to 24,000 bushels per hour on the commercial side. Stand-alone models, leg units, and ground pile stacking models are among their products.

The Pit Express uses hydraulics to raise and lower the main platform for transport. The ramps are spring-assisted. The Pit Express attaches to most brands of augers and are powered off the auger. All other models are either electric or hydraulic-driven. A plastic cover is available to protect the pit.

Steve says, “We do a lot of custom work such as adapting grain legs for elevators.” With metal fabrication abilities and the paint facility, there are a lot of options.

The shot blasting and powder-coating facilities are available for custom outside work. For someone wanting an item shot blasted, the Mast brothers’ shop in Payson uses steel shot with a full recovery floor.

Mast Productions’ latest invention with patent-pending, is a railroad car unloader which gives grain elevators access to any rail car in a short period
of time.

Steve laughs, “Going from a farmer-inventor to owning and managing a full-scale manufacturing operation is a big leap.” Any business is a lot of work. Brent and Steve both continue to farm while operating their equipment business. Steve says that farming is a relief after spending many hours with the manufacturing side. Steve adds, “The last four years have been rewarding. We’ve had a lot of success.”

For two brothers who only intended on farming, Mast Productions has skyrocketed to success. Today, they have sold nearly 600 units to 28 states, Canada, and Germany.

The Masts attend 11 indoor and outdoor farm shows each year including the Agritechnica show in Hannover, Germany.

Mast Productions can be reached at (217) 656-3911 and more information can be found on their website at: www.pitexpress.com.