Cattle feeder works with OSU engineering center to develop new feeder

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Bear Runyan, co-owner and manager of 3C Cattle Feeders, has worked extensively with the Oklahoma State University New Product Development Center, the Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance and the OSU Applications Engineering Program to develop new, innovative products and expand business operations.

The NPDC and 3C Cattle Feeders became connected through Manufacturing Extension Agent Kay Watson, Runyan said. Watson and Dan Tilley, NPDC associate director and OSU agricultural economics professor, stopped by 3C Feeders after working on another project. After discussing the company operations, Tilley suggested 3C Feeders work with the NPDC to develop a new feeder.

“They came by and we got to talking about stuff, and Dr. Tilley said he could make a class project out of our feeder, and that’s how it got started,” Runyan said. “Since then, they have done all kinds of things for us. The resources they’ve provided have been great for us.”

Runyan said the NPDC has assisted in developing products, developing a marketing plan, and conducting a business analysis for 3C Feeders. These projects helped the company expand and become more efficient and cost effective in production.

“Because of the interaction with the Applications Engineer Shea Pilgreen and the New Product Development Center, 3C has increased production and become more efficient,” Watson said. “I think they have given him new, improved ways to make his product that are less labor intensive, so that has caused him to make a better profit and to be able to keep his product at a price that the customer is willing to buy.”

Tilley said Runyan has been a good client to work with because he is open to changes within his business plan, and he understands the financial consequences of changes.

“Bear’s one of the few small manufacturers in Oklahoma that we’ve taken through both phase I and phase II of a small business innovations research program,” said Tilley. “That says a lot about him, really. He understands what is going to be required to get a new product on the market and circumstances that are somewhat challenging.”

 According to Tilley, Runyan’s creativity has helped foster the relationship between 3C Feeders and the NPDC.

“Bear’s a very creative person,” Tilley said. “I think it is in his nature to invent things. He sees an issue and he puts something together that will solve the problem.”

Watson said during the six years she has worked with 3C Cattle Feeders, Runyan’s creativity has helped the business grow and expand the product line.

“Bear’s very innovative,” Watson said. “He has four or five patents to his credit. “ He’s always looking for ways to be more efficient or new products to put in his line.”

Pilgreen, and OSU applications engineer, said Runyan has greatly increased product development over the past three years.

“Early on, Bear was reserved as far as new products and new ideas,” Pilgreen said. “In the past three years he’s really been working on expansion.”

Pilgreen has worked with Watson to assist Runyan in this expansion by designing a new manufacturing facility and assembly layout for 3C Feeders in order to secure funding for the new facilities.

Runyan said this helped the company to increase production and overall efficiency.

“Shea’s helped me a bunch on figuring out easier ways to do things and better ways to lay out the shop,” Runyan said. “I had never been in manufacturing, so I was not quite sure how to do all of that at first. We were just used to the way we started and thought that was the only way to do it, but when someone has been around it awhile, it is amazing how much easier they can make the whole process.”

Runyan said most orders are received for their top-selling product – the 1,500 lb. cube feeder. The 1,500 lb. cube feeder is one of seven products in the cattle feeder line produced by 3C Feeders.

“Our main line consists of six different sizes our cube feeder that goes in the back of the pickup,” Runyan said. “Then we've got the creep feeder, and we build athletic lockers, also.”

Runyan said his favorite part of the production process is building new products, and the custom order feeders created by 3C Feeders allow him to do that on a daily basis.

“When people call they have an idea on building something, but they don’t know if it can be done,” Runyan said. “I try to figure it out and see if we can do it.”

3C Feeders tries to ensure they develop and deliver a product that will meet the needs of the customer, Runyan said.

“We take a lot of pride in what we do,” Runyan said. “That's how we try to keep a good name, by taking care of our customers. They are the most important part. The customer is king.”