It was the same year the Russian satellite Sputnik was launched into space that Spudnik Equipment Company launched itself into the potato equipment manufacturing business. It started in a potato cellar northwest of Blackfoot, Idaho (the potato capital of the world), by a group of men with the idea that loading potatoes should be less back breaking than the method they were using. Brothers Carl and Leo Hobbs designed and developed the Spudnik Scooper and the company was founded. From these humble beginnings in 1958, Spudnik has grown into an international company, meeting the field and storage equipment needs of potato growers across the globe. A commitment to customer focus has allowed Spudnik to grow and invest millions of dollars in research and development in manufacturing methods. This investment continues to put Spudnik on the cutting edge of machinery development. Leveraging its rich history in potato equipment, Spudnik has expanded into the sugar beet equipment arena, developing innovative equipment for that industry as well. Today Spudnik is a proud member of the Grimme Group of companies which is headquartered in Damme, Germany. Grimme is the largest potato equipment manufacturer in the world, having been providing solutions for the potato industry for over 150 years.