At the entrance of the Double L manufacturing building in Heyburn hangs a plaque etched with the words: "A combination of two legacies."
Since 1979, Double L has been recognized worldwide for its potato equipment – including planters, harvesters, and conveying and handling systems. Now, the company begins a new chapter under the ownership of another longstanding Idaho business, BTR Manufacturing, based in Paul.
Founded by Martin and Judy Barclay in 1984 as Barclay Truck Rebuilders, specializing in truck and trailer repair. In 2014, BTR Manufacturing was established, specializing in the manufacture of trailers for transporting bulk agricultural products. Over the past decade, with the return of Martin’s sons – Nate, Jake and Josh – the business has grown into multiple entities under the BTR name, expanding into new industries and embracing the latest technologies.
Now at ages 28, 32 and 34, Josh, Jake and Nate are eager for the future. Equipped with business and engineering degrees, they’ve been able to collaborate with their team of engineers to accelerate product development and innovation across all of their companies.
Speaking highly of the Double L brand, the Barclay family is excited to take the prior craftsmanship of Double L and continue to innovate the products, under the new name BTR Double L.
Hitting the ground running
With the acquisition finalizing in February, the BTR team wasted no time making updates to Double L products. Nate Barclay says many of the machines were still operating with controls more than 15 years old, so they immediately got to work modernizing software systems. They are also in the process of modifying equipment to increase capacity and improve functionality, with a strong focus on long-term reliability. Upgrades such as American-made bearings and higher-quality belted chains are being added to reduce breakdowns and minimize maintenance for farmers in the field.
In addition to these improvements, the team has two new products in development: a pull-behind manure spreader and a crop cart, both in process as of this summer.
The Double L manufacturing facility in Heyburn will now be known as BTR Double L. Image by Cassidy Woolsey.
Strengthening the service and parts side of the business has been another top priority. Under previous management, many customers struggled to get parts in a timely manner. “That’s one thing that’s changed right off the bat,” Nate Barclay says. “[At BTR] we have our parts department as a completely separate entity, and because of that, it runs its own management group and supplies all of our other entities. … we’ve been able to increase our stock inventory on our shelves to better supply our customers.”
Jake Barclay adds, “We have set a goal to have multiple parts of every piece of equipment that we build, so that when customers call we have it on the shelf.”
Previously, Double L had service areas and parts warehouses throughout Idaho and into Washington. However, in recent years, those warehouses have slowly closed down and lost their ability to service customers in those areas. The Barclays are hoping to bring those locations back and to work better with their dealer network so that they can get the parts and products closer to their customers.
“We brought on three more service techs within the last six months,” Nate Barclay says. “That’s just on the BTR Double L side. We already have our service techs on the BTR side. Cross training is a huge focus for everybody, so we can have a better fleet for everything. So any service call needs to be done – whether BTR Double L or BTR – our service techs can go to the call.”
A potato windrower is on display at the open house. Image by Cassidy Woolsey.
Leading with technology
While improving service and parts remains a priority, the Barclays are also focusing on keeping BTR Double L competitive through cutting-edge technology. Jake Barclay admits the push toward innovation requires significant investment but is necessary to stay ahead of both domestic and international competition. “Germany and European countries are really stepping it up, and our goal is to really push [technology], not just to compete with American companies, but we have too many European companies coming in and competing with American brands,” he says.
A key part of that effort involves the use of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly in BTR Double L planters. “We’re using artificial intelligence for skip detection to increase yield in the fields. This technology helps improve efficiency and output,” Nate Barclay says. “By integrating AI, cameras and advanced monitoring into the planter, we hope BTR Double L’s technology can lead the industry.”
The Barclays emphasizes their willingness to collaborate with customers on customizations and improvements. By working closely with customers and their team of engineers, BTR Double L aims to make producers more efficient and tailored to the customer’s needs – a commitment they hope will excite their customers.
“[Farmers] are the best feedback,” Jake Barclay says. “Too many times, engineers will tell you what they think needs to be done, and what they don’t realize is they’re not the ones out in the field using it every day.”
The Barclays are excited for the future of BTR Double L. Crediting their team as their greatest strength, Nate Barclay adds, “We are grateful for the efforts that drive not only our success today but also the bright future we are building together.”
