[LISA] My name is Lisa Schoborg. I'm a senior data analyst at Viking Pump and I've been here for 18 years. [CHRIS] My name is Chris Mihm. I'm the program manager with the global distribution group and I've been with Viking for just over 20 years. [Andi] My name is Andi Bicket. That's an I, not a Y. I am a senior graphic designer at Viking Pump and I have worked here for 20 years. [BRUCE] Bruce Helgeson. I'm a senior operations engineer here at Viking Pump. Been with Viking for roughly 36 years. [INTERVIEWER] Look back.

This is a gear pump, a type of rotary positive displacement pump. Its tight-fitting clearances allow it to evacuate air in the suction line to prime the pump. And once primed, it's capable of pulling even higher vacuums. This ability to self-prime is key in applications like unloading drums, totes, rail cars, and barges. But as good as this pump is at pulling the liquid in, it's always going to be limited and not based on the pump. It's based on an invisible force pushing the liquid in from the outside, and that's atmospheric pressure.

Viking Pump is the global leader in positive displacement pumping solutions and we proudly manufacture and assemble our products in Cedar Falls, Iowa. With our own dedicated foundry and machine shop, we build our products from start to finish to our own high standards. This vertical integration gives us better control of our supply lines, enhances our ability to respond to change, and creates stability for our partners and customers. We’ve been centrally located in Iowa since 1911. We're proud of that history. We're proud of the work we've done, still do, and will do together.

So I started at Viking 6 and a half years ago as an account manager with the OEM team, moved up as a senior account manager and then a supervisor. Currently I'm the customer support manager for the OEM and energy teams. I really started with OEM but I got to work with energy here or there. Really cool to see just starting out having no knowledge of pumps and not knowing what any of the components are to having a lot more knowledge but even looking more at the process and how we can continue to grow better each day.

So I did an internship here. Once I graduated, transitioned into a production planning and scheduling type of role and then recently transitioned to production manager for about 2 years now over the assembly team. I've had some great mentors along the way, ones that have really pushed me to be the best that I can be. I think those kinds of opportunities are important because it helps motivate.

So I'm the HR support for several different functions within Viking Pump. Right now I support our foundry, our team in Windsor, Canada, and our finance team which sits at a couple of different locations. I did not have the foundry when I first started and I have the foundry now so that was a huge change in responsibilities since we have a union in the foundry and I actually had no experience working in a union environment when I started here. It actually was one of the reasons that I was interested in this job when I took it though.

[NARRATOR] The Viking Pump ROOTS program is proud to partner with the Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity to provide affordable housing and home ownership programs to our local communities. [DUSTY] Habitat for Humanity is an international organization that has helped over 70 million people find affordable housing throughout the globe. Our local affiliate here - Iowa Heartland Habitat for Humanity - serves four counties. We're a Christian-centered organization so our mission is to put God's love into action by bringing people together to build homes, communities, and hopes.

Packing is one of the most common and simplest seals for positive displacement pumps. Packing consists of braided or formed rings that are compressed inside the stuffing box of a pump. As the packing gland is tightened, the packing is compressed against the shaft and the inside of the stuffing box bore - creating a seal. When the pump is operating, process liquid cools and lubricates the packing. The pump must leak or "weep" slightly to ensure proper lubrication. Packing is one of the oldest forms of shaft sealing. Original packing was made of materials such as leather or rope.

In Nebraska, soybean oil is just one edible oil that's produced. Soybean oil is used not only for cooking but also in the manufacture of personal care products and as a feedstock in the manufacture of biodiesel. And just down the road, you’ll find pumps for corn oil, sunflower oil, even walnut oil. And expanding that search globally you’ll find Viking pumps for palm oil, olive oil, peanut oil, rapeseed oil, grapeseed oil, and dozens of others. Next is Arizona. Seal coat is an asphalt emulsion used in the repair of paved surfaces.

[INTERVIEWER] In kind of your own words, how would you describe your role as HR manager after being here for 5 years? [KRISTIE] That's a great question because every day is a little bit different... So I'm the HR support for several different functions within Viking Pump. [LUKE] I worked in Viking Pump's PE lab for 13 years now I'm part of the applications team. [MICHAEL] So I did an internship here. Once I graduated, transitioned into a production planning and scheduling type of role and then recently transitioned to production manager for about 2 years now over the assembly team.