Randy is Manager of the Experimental Shop.  He supervises all projects and the related administrative/purchasing tasks.  Involved in farming throughtout his life, he is very familiar with agricultural equipment and processes.  In addition to Ag Power technologies skills, Randy is proficient in the use of ProEngineer CAD and works directly with client engineers to develop designs for new and improved products

Background

At Diedrichs & Associates, Inc., Randy began as a shop mechanic working on a variety of agricultural tractors, implements and special machine projects. For three years, he was on special assignment at the John Deere Ottumwa Works engineering department working on baler and mower conditioner design projects.  In 2003, he returned to became manager of the Experimental Shop.

Randy has very broad experience as a farmer, mechanic, modeler/designer and shop manager. The following list illustrates the variety of projects he has worked on:

• Shop Management
   - Work with clients to determine needs, work scope and schedules for new shop projects
   - Manage shop activity to optimize resources of people and equipment
• Mechanical Design/Model
   - ProEngineer modeler/designer
   - Design of parts and assemblies
   - Creation of 3D Models, part details and large assemblies
   - Broad experience in design and prototype build of agricultural tractors, implements and      other off-road equipment and special machines

• Agricultural Equipment Development
   - Design/model parts for tractors and special off-road equipment
   - Design/model subsystems of mower conditioner chassis, hydraulics and controls
   - Design/model susbsystems of baler chassis, hydraulics, twine tension, knotter, etc.
   - Build prototypes of planter frames for narrow transport mode
   - Build prototypes of tractors, implements and experimental machines
   - Modified combines for special applications
   - Managed project for development of Soil Sampling Machine ——>

• Off-Road Equipment Development
   - Design/model parts to modify construction machines
   - Build prototypes of construction equipment and experimental machines
   - Build and test prototypes of 50 hp Wide Area Mowers  ——>

• Special Purpose Machines
   - Build equipment to test performance of tractor hitch systems
   - Build equipment to test performance of large hydraulic wheel motors
   - Build special equipment to test gear shift mechanism performance to 1,000,000 cycles
   - Build special equipment to test transmission performance

• Operation of Family Farm
   - Farms 600 acres of corn, beans, and alfalfa
   - Owns, uses and maintains a full complement of farm machinery- tractors, implements,...
   - Prior farm activities:
     · Fed cattle- 350 head finishing operation
     · Fed hogs- farrow to finish

• Other recent and current activities
   - Board member of Dunkerton Corp.
   - Member of Hawkeye Community College advisory committee on Power and Farm      Management
   - Worked with Hawkeye Community College to establish a training program for selected      students in electromechanical technician program
   - Hosted a day of "Threshing machine events" to allow visitors to experience old time      threshing operations as spectators or as active particpants.
     Click on the picture to read more about the "Threshing machine event"

Additional Information