Eagle International parent company celebrates 50th anniversary

Eagle International, a Lyons, Nebraska-based manufacturer of tire shears, derimmers, bead removers and sidewall cutters, has announced that its parent company, Lyons-based agricultural and tire recycling equipment manufacturer Brehmer Mfg. Inc., will celebrate its 50th anniversary with an open house Oct. 4. The public is invited to tour the company’s plant, visit with workers and learn about Brehmer and its products.

Since its founding in 1974, Eagle International has grown from four employees in a 1,500-square-foot former olive factory to almost 60,000 square feet of manufacturing space and 45 full-time employees.

In 1991, the company was approached by a newly formed business, Tire Resource Systems, and tasked with designing and building the first product of what would become Eagle International Tire Recycling Equipment. The company’s hydraulic-powered tire shear, the Tru-Cut, hit the market in 1994 and led to the development of other shears, sidewall cutters, derimmers and debeaders capable of processing tires up to 59/80R63.

Founded by Rey Brehmer, the company has remained a family business. Rey retired in 1998, and his son, Joe, has served as the company’s president ever since, while his brother, Jamie, was brought in to serve as its vice president. Younger brother, Chad, joined the business in 2012.

Rey died in 2015, and the company says he left behind “a legacy of hard work, integrity and innovation within the company.”

According to Eagle International, the next generation of Brehmers has started making an impact. Brothers Ryan and Alex Brehmer, the current vice president, joined the company in 2015 and 2019, respectively.

In 2017, Brehmer acquired Eagle International, expanding its global presence by building a network of dealerships. Brehmer continued to grow by developing a line of fertilizer tenders and a patented line of hog feeders for commercial growers.

“It’s hard to believe that it has been 50 years,” Joe says. “Our success would not have been possible without the dedication of the men and women who have worked here. The amazing support we got from our customers and vendors made this journey very special.”

As it celebrates its 50th anniversary, the company says the “spirit of innovation” Rey instilled continues to thrive and it continues to build products that “create a lasting impact, growing from humble beginnings to a global company with products in 27 countries.”