Electraform Equipment retains a Legacy of Innovation in Beatrice, Nebraska

In Beatrice, Nebraska, craftsmanship and community go hand in hand, and Electraform Equipment is writing an exciting new chapter in local manufacturing. Founded in 2023 through a partnership of Daniel Penner and Jono Cullar, Electraform is carrying forward a legacy established in Beatrice decades ago by Louis Goossen, a noted manufacturer of dairy and landscape equipment, and Harper Industries. The longtime friends combine their respective backgrounds and interests in emerging technologies and energy efficiency to build on Gossen’s essential products while retaining core offerings.

Keeping high-quality manufacturing local

Electraform was established out of a passion for keeping quality, American-made outdoor power equipment on the market and is expanding with a vision for how electrification and new technologies could apply to the durable tools required for landscaping, construction, and municipal maintenance. At the same time, the founding is deeply personal as Penner’s roots are in Beatrice. His grandparents are from the town, and his father grew up there. This connection and a deep respect for the machinery once built by Goossen led to the launch of Electraform. 

“We had been meeting regularly, tossing around ideas, and I knew Harper Industries was considering winding down production of the Goossen straw and debris blowers,” Penner explained. “...I saw the quality of these machines and recognized the potential.” 

Goossen’s original designs, which had been supported for years by Precise Fabrication – now part of Kinney Manufacturing – had a reputation for quality and longevity, characteristics important to the new owners. With early engineering support from the team at Harper and manufacturing expertise from Kinney, Electraform stepped in to not only continue production but to reimagine what the next generation of outdoor power equipment could look like.

Solidifying local manufacturing ties

Electraform’s approach to manufacturing is both respectful of the past and forward-focused. The co-founders recognize the importance of the legacy product line as many of Goossen’s original machines are still in operation today. Electraform still supports these owners, and often fields calls from customers needing help with models built as far back as the 1980s. 

Simultaneously, the team is forging a future defined by emerging markets in quiet, clean energy. In partnership with Kinney Manufacturing, Electraform continues to manufacture the SB 1300 straw blowers and the PTO-driven debris blowers in Beatrice. Kinney’s flexibility and commitment to quality have made them essential in bringing Electraform’s products to life. 

“Working with Kinney has been incredible,” Cullar said. “They’re collaborative, open, and understand what it means to preserve a legacy while helping us build something new.”
Kinney Manufacturing launched over 13 years ago in Lincoln and expanded to Beatrice in 2018 with the acquisition of Precise Fabrication. When Precise Fabrication was acquired, Kinney took over manufacturing straw and debris blower components – one of the many product lines the enterprise produces, utilizing approximately 200 employees split between the Lincoln and Beatrice locations.

In early  2023, Penner and Cullar first approached Randy Kinney about their idea to reinvigorate the SB1300 line by rebuilding worn-down tooling and fully assembling the straw blowers in Beatrice, Nebraska.

Randy Kinney pointed out the products have now come full circle: “Precise Fabrication produced these parts completely in Beatrice thirty to forty years ago, and they’ve gone around the world and come back. Now, we’re producing them in Beatrice again.” 

It’s an amazing success story given the Goossen machines were briefly at risk of disappearing from production. While there was no formal sunset in place, previous owners scaled back output and created a long gap in availability. It could have marked the end of the line for a product valued by customers across the country. Electraform’s arrival reversed the trajectory, and through the partnership with local manufacturers, the company is ensuring Beatrice remains a hub for specialized, high-quality outdoor manufacturing. 

“I spent so much time in Beatrice growing up,” Penner recalled. “My dad went to Sunday school with Leroy from Precise Fabrication. It’s been really meaningful to bring this work back home and continue something that mattered to this community.”

Building a diversified future

From the beginning, Electraform envisioned moving toward electric-powered machinery, particularly for equipment applications in residential or highly-regulated environments where noise and emissions are a primary concern. Product enhancements and developments are still in the development phases as Penner and Cullar identify the best and most cost-effective methods of moving forward. Early research has been very positive, and the team plans to gather user feedback on certain products soon. 

“We want to create products that are going to last a long time, use electric when it makes sense, and stay on the cutting edge of what’s out there in the market with battery technology and electric technology generally,” Cullar explained. “Though maybe not all of the products we come out with in the future will be electric, it is something that we want to prioritize and emphasize as we continue our product development moving forward.” 

Despite the planned expansion into electrical offerings, Electraform does not plan on abandoning gas-powered models. The company envisions a future where legacy durability and cutting-edge sustainability are intertwined.

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