The AEM Manufacturing Express rolled into Salisbury, North Carolina today to celebrate our 50th tour stop with the men and women of Power Curbers, a manufacturer deeply rooted in North Carolina.
Power Curbers was founded in 1953 as a small, family-owned manufacturing company. They made their mark on the industry as the inventors of the world’s first-ever curb machine, a product that helps to streamline paving jobs in the construction industry. It’s a complex product that relies on the attention of 90+ manufacturing workers in their North Carolina facility. It isn’t too often that a small Southern business rises to global recognition, but today Power Curbers machines are used in over 100 countries, with international sales accounting for 20% of their annual revenue.
Growth at Power Curbers has been steady, allowing new opportunities for their team members, cultivating a family of loyal employees along the way. Their company president, Stephen Bullock, has used the lessons learned over his 30-year career at Power Curbers to build a close-knit team. Bullock started as a high-school history teacher. A search for new opportunities brought him down the road to Power Curbers, where he joined their sales team and traveled the Southeastern U.S., meeting people whose livelihoods rely on their machines. “It’s important to remember that at the end of the production line is a person who needs what you’re creating,” Bullock said.
Power Curbers has always held a commitment to their people. Few know this better than Bill Robinson, now a pillar of their team, who joined Power Curbers after a chance encounter with the company’s owner. Seated next to each other at a restaurant, Bill was offered a trial run to prove his experience. Eight years later, he ensures that every machine configuration is perfectly prepared for assembly—but Bill’s influence carries beyond the shop floor.
Known as the resident Grill Master, Bill embodies the family-like atmosphere at Power Curbers, contributing in his own unique way every day. The company recognized his talent for big-family-style cooking, tapping into his skills for events ranging from company picnics to the annual Rowan County Dragon Boat Festival, in which Power Curbers proudly participates. Today, Bill was back at it—grilling 300 burgers for the company cookout. His secret weapon? A massive, self-made smoker crafted from spare parts he salvaged from around the shop. It’s more than just a smoker; it’s something that brings people together, reinforcing the strong sense of community that defines Power Curbers.
As the AEM Manufacturing Express rolls along, Power Curbers stands as a shining example of how the equipment manufacturing industry’s greatest strength lies in its people, each person contributing their talents and adding to the story of our industry—whether it’s in the office, on the factory floor, or at the grill. The 50th stop may have come and gone, but the story of Power Curbers is far from over.
