ABOUT BARRETO MANUFACTURING
Established in 1983
As a college student working part-time at a tool rental company, Greg Barreto was frustrated by the amount of time he spent trying to fix the tillers that were constantly breaking down. He frequently thought: There has to be a better way to make a tiller.
Barreto knew the tiller parts most often needing repair were belts, chains and gears. If he could eliminate these mechanical components, the tiller would be more reliable by design. He experimented with hydraulic power, and found he could make a tiller - without belts, chains or gears. In 1983 Greg Barreto designed and built the industry's first all-hydraulic tiller. Customers, eager to save the cost and hassle of frequent repairs, gave the new tiller a try, and came back with glowing reviews.
Word of the revolutionary new all-hydraulic tiller spread, and Greg made more sales. The following year, Greg and his wife Chris founded Barreto Manufacturing, Inc. In 1986, the company moved to La Grande, Oregon, and set up manufacturing operations for all-hydraulic tillers.
In 2005, the owner of that first tiller offered to return it to Barreto Manufacturing, so thrilled he was with its 22 year run. At the 2005 company Christmas party, the employees surprised Greg and his wife Chris and their family by presenting them with that original tiller, which still runs today.
Barreto Innovation Leads to a Host of "Firsts"
The fundamental question driving Greg Barreto is, how do we take something good, and make it better? Finding answers to that question has led to Greg leading the industry with improvements in tillers and trenchers that have resulted in the following "firsts":
- First all-hydraulic tiller introduced 1983
- First all-hydraulic trencher introduced 1995
- First self-propelled mini-trencher introduced 2005
- First steerable trencher with zero turning radius introduced 2007
