OUR HISTORY

The Betenbender Family of Hydraulic Shears, Hydraulic Press Brakes and C-Frame Presses are manufactured and assembled in the USA by Betenbender Manufacturing, Inc. in Coggon, Iowa, U.S.A. Now in our fifth decade in business, our Midwestern Company continues to produce what we believe is America’s best built Shears, Press Brakes and C-Frame Presses.

 

Glen (Pete) Betenbender began as a blacksmith in Coggon during the 1930s. During WWII, he ran a small fabrication and repair shop. In 1948 he and his wife, Blanche, moved their growing business into its current location as a repair and manufacturing facility. Their son, Max, joined the company in 1967 after serving in the United States Army. In 1972, Pete and Max built their first shear for their own use, but demand from other local businesses for their shear prompted the Betenbenders' to begin producing shears for national and international resale. In 1984 Betenbender Manufacturing, Inc. got its first contract to produce shears for a major company. 

In 2012, Betenbender Manufacturing, Inc. purchased Hydraulic Machines, Inc. from long time friends, Alan and Whitney Hanner. Under the HMI (Hydraulic Machines of Iowa) name we offer a line of C-frame presses ranging from 35 ton to 200 ton. 

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Betenbender Manufacturing, Inc. continues to be a family owned business. Today Donna (Max's wife) is President, Teresa (Max's daughter) is Operations Manager and the corporations Treasurer. Courtney (Teresa's daughter) works on the website, advertising and media and is the corporations Secretary. The Vice President, Kyle Rawson, handles the operation of the manufacturing facility which includes customer service and fabrication. 

 

Today there are over 4,500 Betenbender machines in use with very few on the used market. 

 

We have always said...

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“If it says Betenbender on the nameplate, you’ve got a machine that will do the job.”