About Us
Art’s Manufacturing & Supply (AMS), Inc.
Since AMS, Inc. was founded in 1942, our products have been used by individuals, businesses, universities, non-profits, and government agencies throughout the world for a wide variety of testing, monitoring, and sampling purposes. AMS primarily serves the following industries: Agricultural, Geotechnical, Environmental, and Groundwater.
AMS manufactures soil augers, soil probes, soil core samplers, sludge and sediment samplers, soil gas samplers, and more! And since 1994, we have been manufacturing AMS PowerProbe direct push drill rigs. Our PowerProbes can be mounted on pickup trucks, trailers, UTVs, skid loaders, tractors, and tracks. They have gained widespread acceptance due to their versatility, relatively low cost, and ease of mobility. PowerProbes are designed to be used for soil, soil gas, and groundwater testing, monitoring, and sampling; installing monitoring wells; geophysical and geotechnical assessments; and remediation investigations and implementations. In addition, most PowerProbe models can be fitted with hollowstem augering capabilities.
From left to right: Braydon Chipps, Marc Chipps, Rick Vollweiler, and Brehn Chipps.
The Beginning
Art Vollweiler opened the doors of Art's Machine Shop over 80 years ago and following a simple philosophy, created the cornerstone from which growth and development has exploded. “Everything is a Work of Art" was this philosophy. He considered every AMS product a direct reflection on him, so every design was developed with purpose and longevity in mind.
As time passed, AMS’s product line expanded as Art's reputation for innovation grew. When the Soil Conservation Service of the United States government asked Art to develop a tool for sampling soil, Art took the task seriously. The soil auger design from that project is still in use today. Over the next few years, a complete line of hand sampling equipment, including soil augers, hammer driven samplers, specialty shovels, and accessory items, were developed.
The Vision
With the cornerstone firmly planted, the company was ready for growth. In 1980, Art's son Rick joined the company. Recognizing that the future was in the global market, Rick expanded the vision from a successful local business to a major, global competitor. With an aggressive marketing plan and an expanded product line, the company grew to more than 20 times its original size.
AMS is still driven by the simple philosophy that each product is a “Work of Art." AMS products are custom built and exhaustively tested by our highly qualified team to meet the customer's exact needs and specifications. Our diligent efforts to provide quality products, combined with a strong commitment to technological improvements of the product line, and even greater commitment to customer service, has solidified AMS as a major manufacturer in the global environmental industry.
The Legacy
AMS has since taken adequate steps to expand within the Agricultural, Geotechnical, Environmental, and Groundwater industries. With each new step, we are reminded of the need to stay true to our founding philosophy. To this day, we are finding better ways to do our jobs with less of an impact on the environment. We are also developing partnerships that enhance our technologies.
In 2002, Art’s grandson Marc joined the management team which helped us to respond more quickly to industry demands. Now, as President of AMS, Marc has pushed technological advancements of AMS’s existing products further than ever before, while encouraging the further expansion of product lines and uses.
AMS now is a fourth-generation family-owned business thanks to Art’s great-grandsons, Brehn and Braydon. With the whole family together today, we know our company will grow even more.
Our Commitment
As we strive to meet and surpass our goals, we recognize that AMS is here for the long haul. We are fully committed to providing high-quality products followed with excellent customer service. We will always welcome suggestions for special or custom products that will satisfy your specific needs. You, the customer, along with the AMS team, are our greatest asset, and we commit to you nothing less than a "Work of Art!"