Our History

In 1936, Behlen Mfg. Co. was founded in the Columbus, Nebraska, garage of Walter D. Behlen. Initially producing steel toe caps for work shoes and clamps for wooden egg crates, Behlen quickly earned a reputation for innovative, quality farm products.

In the 1950s, Behlen expanded its offerings to include grain bins, dryers, and the revolutionary self-framing building system known as S-Span, further solidifying its position as a leader in the industry.

In 1969, Behlen was acquired by the Wickes Corporation, marking a new chapter in its history. However, in 1984, following some major setbacks in the grain industry, TR Raimondo led a management buy-out, returning the company to local ownership.

Through TR’s leadership, Behlen experienced a historic turnaround in the 1990s, diversifying its product lines to include livestock equipment and expanding its metal building systems business.

In 2006, TR named Phil Raimondo President & CEO of Behlen and in 2019 Phil became Chairman & CEO. After Phil’s passing in 2021, Tony Raimondo, Jr. was named Board Chair and promoted Tom Boal to serve as President & CEO.

From its humble beginnings, through the historic turnaround, and continuing today, Behlen has evolved into a global leader in steel fabrication, serving multiple diverse industries and markets around the world. Behlen continues to be locally owned by the Raimondo family, with a legacy and commitment to innovation and quality products.