You have to be an engineer to appreciate the technical superiority of BendTec products, the efficiency of the processes by which they were made and their outstanding performance in the field.

But anyone with an eye for neat stuff can enjoy looking at what comes out the BendTec doors, for they sport bold, industrially fashionable colors and sweeping, swooping forms and the cleverest of shapes.

Make no mistake, though — BendTec products are made to perform,Ê and perform they do. They’re in high- and low-pressure piping systems. They’re in bridges. In boilers. In light poles. In frame assemblies for spreader tractors. In rocket-motor test facilities. In air cargo loaders. And so much more.

They’re used by structural architects, electric utilities, oil and gas refiners and distributors, mining companies, fabricators and landscape architects — anyone who needs special metals for special purposes.

BendTec shipped pipe to a gold mine in Indonesia through the Port of Duluth-Superior.

Bob Meierhoff is president. Tom Conrad is vice president and chief financial officer. C. Roger Pellett is vice president and chief engineer.

BendTec is a pipe and metal fabrication business specializing in the production of pipe bends for pipelines and steam electric power generating plants. It is known worldwide for its induction bending capabilities. The company also provides many other fabrication and engineering services.

BendTec products come in varied shapes and sizes.

BendTec has about 110 employees. They work as handlers, grinders, blasters, painters, benders, machinists, welders. And engineers, project managers, drafters, administrators and in sales and marketing. Mr. Meierhoff said the company typically will have 15 to 20 projects under way at any one time.

The company’s design ability was a key, said Mr. Conrad, to BendTec’s landing the project for pipe for a gold tailings line on the island of Sumbawa in Indonesia. BendTec’s key contribution was the design for the flanges on the pipe.

BendTec was a pioneer in induction bending.

Another advantage, said Mr. Conrad, was BendTec’s proximity to the Port, which is less than a mile away from where the pipe work was completed. The pipe was shipped to Indonesia aboard the MV Arabella in July.

The cargo consisted of 2,500 metric tons of 44-inch by 60-foot pieces of specially flanged pipe. BendTec welded, tested, painted and lined the pipe and also bent some of the pipe using its induction bending process.

BendTec is capable of bending large diameter, heavy walled pipe and other structural materials — among them tubing, I beams, flanges and a wide variety of shapes, whether square, round, rectangle or multi-sided.

"We’re not in a low-cost labor area," said Mr. Meierhoff. "We have built our business on technical expertise and more complex work. We deal effectively in specialized projects."

Added Mr. Conrad: "People seek us out because of our bending and engineering capabilities. We’re able to provide unique products.

"We are recognized as a technological leader in induction bending. Bob was a pioneer in this hemisphere in putting us into this position. We clearly have a technical advantage."