Rural Successes
Rural Companies are Succeeding in the Global Market!
And you can too! Interested in expanding internationally? Read how the Rural Export Center has helped rural U.S. companies and visit our website to learn how the REC can help you too!
Over the last year, dalakar hill, ltd., an Illinois-based EMC, was contacted multiple times by companies using the EMC Directory. These solid leads resulted in dalakar hill, ltd. working with two manufacturers to export to Mexico, Guatemala, Spain, and Fiji.
Abrasive-Company Sharpens Its Edge Through Market Research - Advanced Superabrasives, Inc. (ASI), based in Mars Hill, North Carolina, is a worldwide provider of high-quality, custom super abrasive product solutions. While the company has already exported to 28 countries, it was looking at how to strategically expand into new markets. Using the Matrix + 3 Country Reports and working with CS Seoul, ASI expanded into South Korea.
Research Sheds Light on Research Path to Oman - A long-time client of the U.S. Commercial Service (CS) Boise, Aviation Specialties Unlimited (ASU) has served commercial, government, and defense customers in more than 70 countries and all seven continents with aviation night vision products and services. ASU knew it needed to be strategic with its resources to find new markets. When ASU expressed an interest in customized REC market research, USCS Boise introduced the company to the FCS National Rural Export Center (REC). The REC delivered a Matrix + 3 Country Reports, which helped ASU identify new markets.
Spectrum Aeromed Takes Off in Brazil - Spectrum Aeromed is an air ambulance company based in Fargo, North Dakota. They used REC Research to increase their exports. After a bit of strategy and patience, the research paid off as they were able to make a sale in Brazil.
From Doubt to Detection: Empowering Companies to Recognize Email Red Flags - When TransAgra received a suspicious email looking for interested manufacturers, the company reached out to the U.S. Commercial Service to request assistance with verifying the legitimacy of a request presumably from Brazil. Learn more about suspicious red flags.
RDO Equipment Finds Fertile Ground in Chile - RDO Equipment Company, established in 1968, is a world-leading North Dakota-based dealer of John Deere tractors and machinery. An engagement with the U.S. Commercial Service in North Dakota led to a discussion of opportunities in South America, which eventually led to an export sale to Chile.
Great Plains Pumps Up the Jam in Germany - Great Plains, a Wichita, Kansas company, approached the Rural Export Center about pursuing market research to forward their export plan. After receiving the research results, they saw a chance to pursue a new opportunity with an old partner.
Heritage Tractor is Not Just in Kansas Anymore - Heritage Tractor developed a relationship with their local US Commercial Service office. As they explained their needs to their local office, they determined that Heritage was a great fit for customized market research with the Rural Export Center. It didn’t take long before the research yielded sales for the agricultural equipment company.
Sea Foam Drives Success Overseas - Sea Foam Motor Treatment is a well-known fuel additive for cars, trucks, boats, lawnmowers, etc. Sea Foam International participated in ExporTech and decided to take its export strategy with the US Commercial Service and the REC’s REC Research a few steps further.
WCCO Belting “Makes Hay” at Agritechnica and Exports - WCCO Belting, based in North Dakota, manufacturer of custom rubber belting used in agriculture, construction, industrial, and recycling machinery. In 2019, WCCO Belting leveraged multiple programs of the U.S. Commercial Service, including exhibiting in a booth within the USA Pavilion at Agritechnica, the world’s largest ag machinery show); and using the in-depth REC Research to speed product development and marketing planning.
RDO Heads South For the Winter - RDO Equipment, based in Fargo, North Dakota, operates dealerships and farming operations across the Midwest and western United States. RDO is the world’s largest dealer of John Deere agricultural machinery. With a large inventory of used equipment, RDO’s international business team wanted to identify a market for machinery in Latin America, a region where they saw opportunities but hadn’t had many previous sales. They also wanted to identify top potential export markets for refurbished construction machinery, as their previous export experience was primarily with ag machinery.
Research Leads to Agritechnica, New Sales for Mattracks - Mattracks, rubber track manufacturer based in Karlstad, Minnesota, participated in a number of different US Commercial Service programs that recently led to new international partners and sales. Through REC Research, the company was able to nail down Germany as a potential top market, leading to the USA Pavilion at Agritechnica, the largest ag trade show in the world.
Botlink Lands Brazil - Fargo-based startup Botlink LLC has signed partnerships with three Brazilian commercial unmanned aerial system (UAVs) companies, including a UAV manufacturer, a drone flying company, and an engineering company. Using in-depth market research from the U.S. Commercial Service in Fargo and Brazil enabled efficient market entry for Botlink.
Czech Out Element 119’s Success - Located in Thomaston, CT, Element 119 makes System X, professional ceramic paint coating products. After working with the U.S. Commercial Service in Connecticut and using REC Research, Element 119 made its first sale in the Czech Republic.
Drone Company Soars to Export Success - SightLine Applications LLC, based in Hood River, Oregon, specializes in advanced onboard unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) video processing systems. The company wanted to build on and expand a few existing customer relationships in Türkiye, so they contacted the U.S. Commercial Service (CS) in Portland who pointed them to the services of CS Rural Export Center.
PRx Performance Powers Up Exports to Canada - A Fargo, North Dakota, squat rack manufacturer found a need for their product by looking north. PRx Performance conducted REC Research which included a Matrix + 3 Country Reports through the Rural Export Center to narrow down where they would find the most international success.
A Stream of Success: U.S. Faucet Company Taps into German Market - T&S Brass has participated in multiple REC Research projects to help target expansion plans in Europe. In May 2024, Ken Gallagher, Vice President Global Sales, was pleased to announce that they had signed an agreement with one of the companies listed in the Germany REC Research report, a distributor of catering supplies. Ken emphasized that the REC report was instrumental in identifying and helping them select the new distributor and is excited about supplying their faucets and handwashing basins to this company. Learn more about how REC services helped T&S Brass and how the services may help your company target new markets.
Knowledge Knows No Borders: Research’s Role In Educational Market Expansion - St. Mary’s School, located in Medford, Oregon, had exported its educational services in the past, primarily partnering with several schools in China. U.S. Commercial Service Portland recommended that St. Mary’s pursue REC market research from the National Rural Export Center in Fargo, North Dakota. A few months later, St. Mary’s received their latest research project, which contained a customized Matrix + 3 Country Reports. Learn how research helped St. Mary’s School expand into Saudi Arabia.
The Write Way to Export - Ventris Learning of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin produces culturally and linguistically responsive teaching resources. After hearing about a new market research service, Robert Meyer met with the Rural Export Center and the U.S. Commercial Service (Wisconsin) to discuss market research assistance. After polling Commercial Specialists in six countries, Ventris Learning chose three countries for in-depth research.
Tackling Complexity with Focus - Adsorptech approached the Rural Export Center for customized market research following participation in a webinar on export distributor agreements. With a complex, technical product, they worked closely with the Rural Export Center to determine what their focused research report would include. The focused approach yielded a distribution partner that was included in the original REC Research.
Palmer Bit Company Drills Down and Finds Export Gold - Palmer Bit Co. in Williston, North Dakota, manufactures drill bits for geothermal, geotechnical, water well, seismic, and mining drilling purposes. The company has made a few international sales over the years, but company owner Kevin Christensen decided to get more proactive about exporting and contacted the U.S. Commercial Service.
Coating Their Business in Sales - Coating Tech Slot Dies (CTSD), based in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, is a slot die manufacturing company that provides manufacturing, design, development, consulting, and technical training services for companies throughout the United States and internationally. In April of 2022, CTSD requested a Website Globalization Review (WGR) from the U.S. Commercial Service (CS) to reach more international clients through its website.
A Toolkit for Success: Oregon-based Company Signs a New Partner in Mexico - “Made in America” for over 50 years, DAREX is a 4th-generation, family-owned manufacturer of drill bits and cutting tool sharpeners based in Medford, Oregon. Seeking to expand their international sales, DAREX turned to the U.S. Commercial Service to determine which markets they should prioritize first. The company decided to pursue a Matrix report with the Rural Export Center, which led to a search for representation in Mexico. The efforts of CS Portland, the REC, and CS Monterrey resulted in multiple successes for DAREX in Mexico, including helping DAREX sign a new distributor, boosting its business development and local after-sales support capabilities, and strengthening its positioning for sales in multiple regions across Mexico moving forward.
Door Stud Gets a Foot in the Door - Based in Fargo, North Dakota, Door Stud is a manufacturer of door installation equipment. The Door Stud team worked with Commercial Service North Dakota and the Rural Export Center on multiple projects, including a Matrix + 3 Country Reports to help refine their strategy for expanding into global markets. These projects assisted Door Stud as they have made important new connections in Australia.
Swanson Health Products Brings Vigor to Latin America - Located in Fargo, North Dakota, vitamin company Swanson Health Products recently found itself with an interesting predicament: in targeting the continent of Latin America for expansion, there was more demand than they were able to supply. Swanson confronted this challenge by using REC in-depth market research from the Rural Export Center to help guide their decision.
American Semiconductor Repackages Its Website - American Semiconductor (ASI), based in Boise, Idaho, provides semiconductor manufacturing services and is the industry leader in ultra-thin advanced packaging. With the ever-important role of semiconductor technology in the global economy, ASI requested a Website Globalization Review (WGR).