By Carly Nichols
Years ago, two workers on a job site were overheard guessing what S.D.P. Manufacturing’s initials stood for. Their final guess was “Set Dat Poe,” and with good reason: they offer equipment for setting poles, digging, and hauling.
S.D.P. is truly a family company. They are owned and operated by Selena and Dru Hall, along with Stan and Scott Pitman. The initials come from a family tradition that many family members were intentionally given names with the initials S.D.P.
Initially operating out of a location in Albany from 1976 to 2003, the family moved into a new building in beautiful Dunkirk, Indiana, in 2004. The emphasis on Dunkirk being “beautiful” is an important detail for Dru Hall. Once, a customer asked if Dunkirk was really that beautiful, and Hall answered without hesitation, “Well, it is to me!” They even sprinkle the word throughout their website to ensure customers know how they feel about S.D.P.’s little piece of the world.
S.D.P. initially began as a sewer cleaning company in 1986. Around 1991, an employee from American Electric Power (A.E.P.) stopped in to use their facilities. While there, the A.E.P. employee saw one of their designs and said that he could use a unit like that to move transformers. After this interaction, S.D.P. created the E.Z. Hauler mini digger derrick, which was the first in a series that hauled. Today, they are up to the E.Z. Hauler model 5500, with the number indicating the lifting capacity.
S.D.P. has precisely the hauler, crawler, digger, and dolly your company may need. You may wonder what sets them apart from other manufacturers of similar equipment. Their attention to detail and quality products is evident in the passionate words they use to describe this business they love so much. “This is all we do, and we do it very well,” said Plant Manager Derek Mays.
“All we concentrate on is easement equipment,” said Hall. “We are family-owned with a family environment.”
Everyone at S.D.P. is active in their community as a family and a company. The company intentionally gives back through donations and volunteering in Albany, Dunkirk, and Portland. Mays is a volunteer fireman in the area and was the Albany fire chief for many years. He currently trains other people to be firemen in his spare time. In addition, Hall is the recipient of the Indiana North District Humanitarian of the Year Award this year, which will be presented to him this month.
When working with this company, you can trust that you will receive the highest service and care.
“Always give them more than they expect,” said Hall. With S.D.P., you can expect they will help you get the equipment you need to “set dat poe!”
For more information on S.D.P. Manufacturing, go to sdpmfg.com and be sure to follow them on Facebook.
Carly Nichols is marketing and communication coordinator at Jay County REMC
