The AEM Manufacturing Express kicked off its historic bus tour with a stop at Weiler in Knoxville, Iowa on July 1. On a hot summer day, the might of American manufacturing was on full display, the facility courtyard complete with skydivers, big iron, and a Weiler community nearly a thousand strong.

The opening ceremony was held out in the open, and for good reason: out in the open is how Weiler does things. Pat Weiler, founder and CEO at the company that bears his name, feels strongly about hard, honest work. “There’s a misconception people have,” he said. “Manufacturing isn’t dark, dirty, or dingy; it’s well-lit, safe, and fair to people.”

It’s true—equipment manufacturing has been good to the people of Knoxville. Founded less than 25 years ago, here at Weiler, prosperity has sprung up where factory floors have been laid. Weiler has since grown to one of the most iconic equipment manufacturers in Iowa. But Pat Weiler isn’t one to self-congratulate, and neither are the workers alongside him. Addressing the crowd, Pat summed up what it means to work at Weiler: “We don’t wait for a pat on the back; we roll up our sleeves and work hard—it’s who we are.” 

And what the folks at Weiler are building is worth celebrating. That’s why, when the AEM Manufacturing Express rolled into Weiler, folks from all around came to join in the festivities. Iowa’s own Representative Miller-Meeks stopped by and stepped into the AEM Manufacturing Express’s mobile studio to record the first segment of ON BOARD! Workers paused production to grab barbecue sandwiches and learn about pro-manufacturing policies.

So, what’s the secret? How has Weiler so quickly become a powerhouse in a state well-known for its manufacturing prowess? Pat Weiler has a simple answer to that: “If you listen to what the customers are telling you, and you build what they want, they’ll come buy ‘em.” At Weiler, it’s no more complicated than that: hard, honest work that everyone can see.