Family-Owned Values Meet Innovation: County Line Stone
For over 60 years, County Line Stone in Akron, New York, has been a cornerstone in the region’s construction industry. Located just 25 minutes east of Buffalo, this 4 generation family-owned business, now led by John, Mike, Brad, and Matt Buyers, has provided the community with high-quality aggregate for construction and specialized materials like riprap for stream banks, shorelines, and blacktop for New York and the surrounding areas. Under the Buyers’ leadership, the company has continued to improve operations while staying true to its roots as a family-run business.
A Day in the Life at County Line Stone
Operating with a team of around 24 union employees doing day-to-day work and 10-12 office staff, County Line Stone is a well-oiled machine that starts its day at 5 AM. Trucks begin rolling in between 5 and 6 AM, and the pace doesn’t slow until closing time at 4:30 PM — sometimes even later if a customer needs extra time.
“If a customer needs us to stay open late, we will. Our customers know they can count on us to get the job done, even if it means staying late,” Matt says.
Modern Solutions for a Growing Demand
To keep up with the growing demand for riprap and large rocks, County Line Stone has turned to cutting-edge equipment; two SENNEBOGEN material handlers: the 840E and the 835E. The 840E has been in use for 3-4 years, while the 835E was added to the fleet within the last year.
“We bought the SENNEBOGENs because of the increasing demand for riprap and larger rocks. The machines have become indispensable for handling the bigger materials — anything over one or two tons. The SENNEBOGENs sort, pick, and load these heavy rocks with precision, something we just couldn’t achieve as effectively with our older equipment.”
The process of creating riprap starts with stripping away overburden, uncovering and blasting the rock. The smaller rocks go through the plant, but anything too large is designated as riprap. That’s when the SENNEBOGEN machines take over, sorting and loading the materials with efficiency.
The Right Tool for the Job
The switch from older, outdated material handlers to SENNEBOGEN machines has been transformative for County Line Stone’s operations. “It’s been night and day. The SENNEBOGEN is faster, more efficient, and safer,” Matt says. “Our operators love the upgrade. The technology is far superior — built-in cameras, scales, and more. It makes their jobs easier and their days more enjoyable.”
But the advantages extend beyond just operational efficiency. The rugged reliability of SENNEBOGEN machines — originally designed for the tough environment of scrap yards — made them a perfect fit for County Line Stone’s demanding quarry environment.
“The logic is if they can make it in a scrapyard, they’ll have no problem making it here moving rocks. We’ve seen no problem keeping up with the workload and they are reliable with great uptime. I see more sennebogens in scrap yards than I do in the mining industry around here and I think its just time. As time goes on, youre going to see more SENNEBOGENs in a mining setting like this one.”
A Strong Partnership with SENNEBOGEN
One key factor in the Buyers’ decision to invest in SENNEBOGEN equipment was his long-standing relationship with Anderson Equipment, their local dealer. “We trust them.”
When County Line Stone needs support, SENNEBOGEN delivers. “Working with family-owned businesses like SENNEBOGEN is important to us. It’s much better than dealing with big, international conglomerates. You get personal attention and care. We’ve had great support from SENNEBOGEN. Their team, including Constantino Lannes, President of SENNEBOGEN North America, has visited us, helping us understand all the tools available for training, parts, and maintenance. Whenever we need something, they’re there.”
The Competitive Edge
SENNEBOGEN equipment provides County Line Stone with a competitive edge by speeding up the sorting and loading process. The orange peel grapple on the machines allows the operators to grab multiple rocks at once, cutting cycle time almost in half when loading trucks.
“The ability to load faster means we can stay ahead of schedule, loading more trucks. That makes a huge difference, especially when we’re filling orders for 10,000, 50,000, or even 80,000 tons of riprap.”
This efficiency also ensures that County Line Stone meets the specific demands of different jobs, especially when varying material sizes are required. The built-in scales on the SENNEBOGEN machines ensure that every rock meets the necessary specs, reducing the risk of out-of-spec material and costly delays.
A Family Business Committed to Quality
At the heart of County Line Stone’s success is its commitment to being a family-owned business. For Matt Byers, maintaining that legacy is essential. “We’re a family owned company, we take a lot of pride in being a family owned company. Its very important to us so when we have the opportunity to work with other family owned companies its a win win for everybody.”
With top-tier equipment, a dedicated workforce, and a commitment to excellent customer service, County Line Stone continues to build on its 60-year legacy, setting the foundation for future generations. “Our most important goal is to keep our customers happy, and with the right tools and team, we’re able to do just that.”
About SENNEBOGEN
SENNEBOGEN has been a leading name in the global material handling industry for over 65 years. Based in Stanley, North Carolina, within the greater Charlotte region, SENNEBOGEN LLC offers a complete range of purpose-built machines to suit virtually any material handling application. Established in America in the year 2000, SENNEBOGEN LLC has quickly become a leading provider of specialized equipment solutions for recycling and scrap metal yards, demolition, barge and port operations, log-handling, transfer stations, waste facilities and the tree care industry from coast to coast. A growing network of distributors supports SENNEBOGEN LLC sales and service across the Americas, ensuring the highest standard of professional machine support and parts availability.
For more information on the full line of SENNEBOGEN green line material handlers, contact:
SENNEBOGEN LLC
1957 Sennebogen Trail
Stanley, NC 28164
Tel: (704) 347-4910 or fax (704) 347-8894
E-mail: sales@sennebogenllc.com
