We entered 2021 honestly not knowing what to expect. We held our fall planning sessions with dealers, but everyone was curious to see how those plans would sync with customer demand once the spring season was underway.
To say we were pleasantly surprised would be a huge understatement.
During the “downtime” of 2020, we dedicated ourselves to building inventory – both machines and parts. When the demand hit in early spring of this year, we were fully stocked and able to deliver. We sold more machines by June than we had through the entirety of 2020. And that demand has continued to the point that we will record our most productive year ever.
The price of steel and supply chain challenges have been our primary sources of frustration in 2021. But as a U.S.-based manufacturer who relies on domestic partners as much as possible, we have been able to keep production flowing and meet demand on both machines and parts.
Again, our products are built here, and we are committed to providing unrivaled support for them. That has resonated with both new customers and established customers, both of whom have endured a lot of frustration with other manufacturers in terms of inventory, parts and support. The infrastructure bill, as watered down as it has become, should promote strong sales as well.
David Stewart is marketing director at Screen Machine Industries.
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