Barry and Les Sauder of Sauder Brothers Construction in Manheim, PA, became Power Curber customers in 1987 and have remained so because of service “and the relationship with the factory” in North Carolina, Barry Sauder said. “Every time I call, they are committed to doing the job and making things happen for us.”

The purchase of the company’s fifth curb machine in 2001 turned out to be the 1,100th machine in the 5700 Series produced at the factory. The Sauders came to North Carolina to see their new machine roll out of assembly and to pose with all Power Curber associates to have a photo made with it.

Power Curbers’ 5700 Series began 14 years ago, and now, with more than 1,100 machines sold, the company is celebrating the popularity of the machine with contractors.

The Sauder brothers’ father, Lewis, started the business in 1947, doing mostly residential work. Both brothers worked with their dad while in school, and formed a partnership in 1980.

The purchase of the company’s first slipform machine turned out to be a sound business decision.

The Sauders remember well the day the decision was made to stop doing curb work by hand. Barry, who was in charge of pouring 5,000 ft. (1,524 m) of 24-in. (61 cm) curb with hand forms, approached Les, after enduring months of backbreaking labor.

“Those forms weigh 180 lbs. apiece when they are clean,” said Les. “Lugging those forms around affects your back and arms. It’s a real safety issue. The potential for injury was pretty much why this happened.”

Barry and one crewmember were digging, setting and pouring about 250 ft. (76 m) per day by hand. This went on for three months before Barry told his brother that there had to be a better way.

They first rented one machine and then bought another. The switch to Power Curbers came in 1987.

The fifth 5700, a specialized 5700-B with the Quick Connect Mold Mount Kit and an auxiliary water than that will be used to store cleaning solution, was put to work in June.

Barry is in charge of the curb operation that now represents about 50 percent of the company’s business. He estimated that Sauder Brothers have poured more than 3 million ft. (915,000 m) of curb. The company has grown from 10 employees in 1984 to 40 in 2001.

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