A Throwback to the 70s and 80s Featuring Old Kinze Advertisements
Because of the popularity of our Throwback Thursday posts on Facebook and Twitter, we’ve started a new, nostalgic series of blog posts that showcase some of the old ads, brochures and articles, which chronicled Kinze innovations throughout our nearly 50 year history. Multi-row Mobility The 1970s: Kinze gets into the planter business. It all started with the introduction of the rear-folding planter toolbar, invented by Jon Kinzenbaw in 1975, after a conversation with a Kinze customer. He was frustrated by the time wasted and tedious and repetitive task required to transport his large rigid frame planter from field to field on his Donohue trailer. That simple conversation sparked an idea that not only changed planter toolbar design, but it also...
Kinze Continues Progress on World’s First Electric Multi-hybrid Planter
It was last December when we announced our newest concept planter: the world’s first electric multi-hybrid planter. It was a big announcement and since then things have been moving rapidly at Kinze as we prepare to bring this exciting innovation to market. In preparation for market, Kinze collaborated and placed planters with several top seed companies including AgriGold, Beck’s Hybrids, Burrus Hybrids and DuPont Pioneer, and their customers located across Iowa, Illinois and Indiana to plant hundreds of acres, using some of the best seed hybrids on the market. During spring planting, we were elated to see the planter in action, automatically switching seed hybrids and population on the go. The hybrid changes were conducted within a single seed drop, so there were no gaps or...
In Kinze News
Kinzeman Takes Flight on a High Altitude Balloon
On Saturday, July 12, KinzeMan boldly went where few mascots have gone before. That day a group of students from Williamsburg teamed with Kinze employees to conduct an epic balloon launch – sending KinzeMan and a capsule containing cameras and a GPS transponder soaring over 100,000 feet into the stratosphere. The launch time: approximately 10:25 a.m. CST The launch site: Kinze headquarters in Williamsburg The (predicted) destination: Iowa City The launch was flawless and KinzeMan took to the sky! The GPS transponder enabled us to follow his whereabouts via an online tracking system – albeit with a five-minute delay – and he traveled a path very similar to what we had predicted. With winds coming from the south and east,...
Round Up of Kinze Family Fun Day
Kinze Family Fun Day was this past Saturday and it was an action-packed day of fun in the sun for our employee's and their families. This long-standing tradition, generously hosted by the Kinzenbaw family, brought together over 1600 Kinze employees, friends and family for an epic celebration. What started out some years ago as a small company picnic has become a full-fledged Kinze carnival with activities, competitions, games and prizes galore! Check out the pics of all the fun we had!
Space Bound! Kinze Helps Williamsburg Students Explore the Outer Limits of Earth’s Atmosphere
The Mission: High Altitude Balloon Fun The Date: Saturday, July 12th • 9:30 a.m. Launch The Goal: A high-altitude balloon (HAB) exploratory excursion – and a space walk by The Kinze Man – at approximately 105,000 feet above sea level. The Location: Kinze Manufacturing, Williamsburg, IA (Staging by the Williamsburg H.S. Robotics Team will start at 8:00 AM) The Weather Forecast: Light northerly winds, less than 30% chance of showers. It’s a go! Williamsburg High School students are ready to launch their first-ever mission to the edge of space this Saturday. The Vehicle: A high-altitude balloon with a capsule that allows them to explore “Near Space”. The launch will take place 9:30 A.M at Kinze in Williamsburg, IA. How does it all...
Have You Visited the Underground Tunnels at Kinze?
Typically, not much thought goes into the process of connecting a company’s factory floor to the executive and administrative offices. But, Kinze is not your typical thinker. When we made the decision to build our new state-of-the-art office building in 2010, “connectivity” was one of the first things on our minds and priority list. We started thinking about safer, more efficient ways to connect and transport employees from building to building; hoping to minimize risk by reducing traffic congestion and the potential for accidents. (If you’ve ever traveled throughout the Kinze complex, and seen the steady flow of vehicles and material, you can certainly understand why we are strongly focused on employee welfare. These people are truly the heart and soul...
Top 10 Reasons to Visit the Kinze Innovation Center
1. Discovery See the motivation, imagination and perseverance of American innovators and the steps taken (and challenges faced) to bring new products and technologies to farmers worldwide. 2. It’s a Tremendous Educational Experience – for Young & Old Interactive children’s displays. Technology displays. Historical farm machinery you won’t find anywhere else, including some of the most unique machines in agriculture: 5020 re-powered tractors, Big Blue, the 12-bottom adjustable plow, the first rear folded planter, the first grain cart and historical tractors from Jon Kinzenbaw’s personal collection. 3. Trace the Evolution of Planting & Harvesting See first-hand how the evolution of planting and grain harvesting equipment changed American agriculture – from the power era of yesterday to today’s remarkable explosion in technology...
In Kinze News
, Planters
Spring Planting Photos From Around the World
Have you seen your picture? Earlier this month, we started receiving pictures of 2014 spring planting photos from Kinze owners from around the world. So, we asked our Facebook and Twitter friends to send theirs as well. Check them out! They’re coming from the USA, Canada, Italy, Slovakia and several other countries! Send yours today and we’ll broadcast it to the world! Simply email them to emily@lessingflynn.com, send them via Twitter by using the hashtag #kinzeplant14 or send them via private message on Facebook. We promise to keep the photos coming. See the current “Kinze Spring Planting 2014” album on Facebook by clicking here. Justin Zoglmann, Missouri Robbie Sattler, Cortland, Nebraska Tyler Everett, Lebanon, Indiana
In Kinze News
Music Meets Manufacturing: Kinze Supports Local Music Education
Dozens of studies suggest there’s a direct correlation (and generally, a positive effect) between music and human behavior – particularly in the areas of academics, intelligence, personality, math, concentration, happiness and language. And yet, isn’t it ironic that one of the most positive influences in education and human behavior seems to be one of the most underfunded programs in our schools and society’s cultural or community affairs. I love the sound of music and commend the dedication and hard work of the people who teach and provide it. Earlier this month, I had the privilege of presenting a Kinze check to the Williamsburg Music Association to help cover the costs for several new and used instruments and choir arrangements. I...
How the Kinze Grain Cart Got Its Start
For over 35 years a giant Kinze grain cart has been hoisted in the air above the Williamsburg, IA exit 216 on I-80. Why? Because it represents the first major product innovation developed and manufactured (1971) by Jon Kinzenbaw and what was then his new upstart company, Kinze Manufacturing, Inc.The original Kinze Model 400 Grain Cart concept was the brainchild of Jon to fill the needs of a local grain producer. It allowed farmers to transfer huge volumes of their grain from their loaded combines to standing trucks – which was a major time-saver during the harvest rush, especially when fields were soft or slippery. This unique low-profile design was the first ever to use giant high-flotation tires on a...