The Company
With ranchers in mind, Pearson Livestock Equipment builds innovative squeeze chutes, alleys, tubs, headgates, and other livestock-handling equipment.
“We believe that when it comes to working livestock, the focus has to be on the animal and the operator. That’s why we continue to lead the industry with innovative equipment designed to reduce stress on both the equipment operators and the animals while standing the test of time under hard use,” co-owner Ricky Rater said.
Bud Pearson founded the company in 1961. Four years later, he earned a patent on the first self-catch automatic headgate. Pearson opened his first manufacturing facility in Nebraska, and current owner Ricky Rater, along with his father David, moved production into Texas in 2016.
The Problem
When Pearson decided to reduce its dependence on outsourcing, it turned to Hornet Cutting Systems for a Hornet LTX, which it purchased in 2021. The Raters searched online for what they needed and saw several used Hornet machines at auctions. Pearson decided to buy directly from Hornet, though, for the quality customer service.
As with most things during the pandemic, a necessary power supply was on backorder. Hornet had a used Hypertherm XPR that it was willing to put on the LTX. After a capital investment analysis, purchasing the LTX was a “very calculated decision that is already living up to the projections”. The company wanted to move outsourced jobs in-house and improve part availability for its welders.
Hornet stood out because “it is solution-oriented and dedicated to innovative R&D”, Ricky Rater said. “Hornet has made us more flexible and agile, giving us more control over lead time.”
The Solution
Like cattle, Pearson’s LTX came in on a truck, and Pearson unloaded the 5-foot by 10-foot cutter with a forklift. Ricky said the truck driver was knowledgeable about Hornet deliveries, which was helpful. Hornet already had helped with site preparation, providing written materials with electrical, grounding, layout, and setup details.
“Hornet helped us think through the setup,” Ricky said.
A Hornet employee came down for an entire week, installed the machine, and provided training.
Pearson was looking for support “since this is a new type of machine for us,” Ricky said.
And that’s what it got from start to finish on the installation and during everyday operation. Since then, Ricky and a top manager learned the machine and have trained other employees.
Maysa Page, service manager, said quality customer service sets Hornet Cutting Systems apart. Knowing that proper setup is essential, Hornet techs guide customers through everything they need for the installation process to go smoothly.
“Buying direct from Hornet means getting access to ‘first-name basis’ kind of service,” Maysa said.
The Hornet LTX has allowed Pearson to work more efficiently, which means a better bottom line.
“One supplier used to do all outsourced laser cutting for us at significant cost,” Ricky said. “These outsourced cutting expenses have gone down considerably and continue to trend down as we bring more cutting in-house up to the processing capacity of the LTX.”
Ricky calls Hornet’s customer support team when needed and gets answers that help keep Pearson running smoothly.
Much like Pearson’s equipment, Hornet’s cutting solutions are designed to reduce stress on you and your team, withstanding time and heavy usage while streamlining your productivity.
“I’ve had an excellent experience with Hornet Cutting Systems and would recommend them,” Ricky said. “There are several good plasma cutter manufacturers out there, but Hornet worked with me well. I’ve been very happy with the customer service and support.”
Get a quote on a machine today and bring your cutting in-house to boost your bottom line!
