Buffalo company specializes in shearing equipment

Buffalo — Twenty-five years ago when sheep shearers were coming to her husband’s family ranch, Rita Long says the shearers wanted Heiniger combs and cutters, but couldn’t find them in the United States.
    That led to the launching of a company to meet the demand for this top-of -the-line Swiss shearing equipment in the United States. Over 25 years later Heiniger Shearing Equipment, Inc. is still going strong with distributors across the nation. The company’s headquarters are in Buffalo where Long’s family remains in the ranching industry.
    Heiniger Shearing Equipment is a family corporation, says Long, who is the president. “While our largest customers are involved with the sheep industry,” she says, “our equipment is also used to shear goats, llamas alpacas, cattle, dogs and horses. We even supply zoos equipment to shear camels and whatever other animals that need sheared. There are also some brush manufacturers, leather companies and rug makers that use Heiniger equipment.”
    “We sell primarily through mail order to dealers and distributors,” she says. In Wyoming, however, most people purchase these products at MTR Ranch Supply in Buffalo.
    “We carry combs, cutters, electric shearing machines and clippers as well as the professional shearing plants with flexible or rigid drops and mechanical handpieces,” says Long. “Electric grinders, sharpening equipment, shearing moccasins, singlets and many other specialty items are also available. Most professional sheep shearers use our products.”
    While sheep numbers have declined, Long says the company has seen less demand in the sheep shearing sector, but other markets have expanded. For example, she’s expecting a shipment of new Heiniger cordless clippers for dogs, horses, crias (baby alpacas) and show cattle. She feels this new clipper will be the best on the market thanks to innovative Swiss technology. It comes with two rechargeable batteries — one to charge, while the other is being used for continuous clipping.
    Heiniger products are distributed throughout more that 50 countries worldwide and are known for their excellence in quality and performance. Long says, selling Heiniger shearing equipment in the United States has been a wonderful business for her family.
    Rita Long of Heiniger Shearing Equipment, Inc. can be reached at 800-215-7701. Jennifer Womack is managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup and can be reached at roundup@wylr.net.