Romafa Metal Works

Great brands don’t just happen. They grow from trust, thrive on innovation and are shaped by the voices of everyday users.

Romafa Metal Works' story best exemplifies this claim. What started as a small single-man welding, custom design and repair workshop in 2012 is now one of the premier producers of air-seeder parts in North America. The company's growth was fueled by a simple yet powerful approach — listening to clients.

“Since day one, we have collaborated closely with dealers and farmers, carefully listening to their insights and integrating their ideas into our products,” says Ronald Kornelsen, founder and owner. “Even though we have technical education and engineers on the floor, we still think that the farmer handling the product knows a lot more than anyone else."

The Idea that Changed Everything

Romafa’s first-ever venture into designing and building an air seeder part is a perfect example of how this philosophy plays out in the real world. As word spread about Kornelsen's skill in repairing farm machinery, a local farmer approached him with an unusual request. He wanted a stainless steel cart. His seeder was corroding and he wanted to rebuild the cart using stainless steel.

The project was a first of its kind, but Kornelsen leaned on his years of experience and design expertise to craft a solution. The solution's success quickly gained attention and more farmers dealing with similar corrosion issues sought his help. The problem was widespread. Most air seeders were made of mild steel, which couldn't withstand contact with fertilizers. Since these parts are only painted externally, internal corrosion often goes unnoticed until holes form. This leads to air leaks and reduces seeding quality. Romafa resolves this issue by using 304 stainless steel, eliminating corrosion and extending equipment lifespan nearly fivefold, providing farmers with a long-term, reliable solution.

Soon, demand outpaced capacity and even major equipment dealers took notice, reaching out for parts. Romafa’s hands-on approach and commitment to solving real-world problems set the company on a rapid growth trajectory.

Practical Products, Exceptional Quality

Today, Romafa offers high-quality stainless steel air-seeder parts designed for multiple OEMs, including John Deere, Flexi-coil, CNH and Morris. The products are designed for easy installation, with a special focus on retrofitting older carts. Their field-tested design keeps all the original meter housing functions intact while the smooth interior facilitates cleaning. Every part is precision laser-cut and welds are passivated to maintain superior corrosion resistance. They also feature improved meter seals that cut down on back pressure, improving airflow and reducing seed bridging to keep seeders running smoothly season after season.

The stainless steel double shoot manifold designed for John Deere carts is a great example of Romafa’s products enhancing OEM machines. It effectively cleared the plugging and buildup issues faced by the machines while improving accessibility and making cleaning much easier.

The company is gearing up to release a full line of different tube conveyors as well as adding support for more seeder manufacturers.

Affordability Comes First

For a capital-intensive industry like farming, cost is often as important as the product's quality. Romafa understands this and is focused on providing cost-effective solutions.

The company presents an affordable alternative to farmers using older machinery whose OEM parts are no longer available. They are often forced to buy new machines instead of just replacing a single part due to their unavailability. These customers can reach out to Romafa directly with a phone call or a photo and find practical solutions waiting. Its deep expertise in air seeder components allows the company to design a compatible replacement or provide an existing part that fits, freeing the farmers from costly full system upgrades.

For newer machines Romafa takes a more practical approach compared to the current industry norm. Rather than pushing full kits or unnecessary replacements, the company helps customers identify only the parts that truly need replacing while ensuring the rest continue to perform.

Despite the higher cost of premium stainless steel, Romafa ensures competitive pricing to match OEM rates while delivering a product that lasts longer and performs better than standard models.

Solving Issues, Building Trust

Numerous success stories stand as proof of Romafa’s expertise in solving customers' issues. In a recent incident, a farmer from Northern Alberta reached out to the company looking for a cost-effective solution for his auger. The situation was complicated by the part's unavailability, even with Romafa. But the team stepped up to the challenge and using the information gained from the client, modified a part built for a different OEM to fit his machine. This custom-fit solution was made with minimal additional cost and fit the customer’s machine perfectly.

“We do not treat our customers as just a number. Everyone who comes to us gets the attention and help that they would get in a small shop,” says Kornelsen. “We believe the good Lord has placed this opportunity in our hands, not merely for profit, but as a way to touch lives and create lasting, meaningful change.”

Building Excellence Through Teamwork

Behind Romafa’s success is an exceptionally talented team focused on delivering quality to customers. The company has adopted a multi-pronged approach which plays a crucial role in ensuring a seamless experience.

The sales team serves as the first point of contact and is trained to value customer relationships over transactions. Their goal is to go beyond making a sale and find the best solution for every farmer. Behind the scenes, the design team works to refine every detail and enhance processes as the company continues to grow. Customers can always reach out to the technical team, who is well-equipped to answer any questions they have.

Strict quality control is maintained on the shop floor and packaging is handled with care, ensuring that parts are well-protected during shipping. From sales and design to production and packaging, every team member shares a common vision of excellence.

This strong sense of unity has its roots in the company’s name itself. The name Romafa was created by combining the first two letters of Kornelsen’s own name, Ronald, with the first two letters of his wife’s name, Marcella. To emphasize the dream of building a family business, he added ‘fa’ from ‘family.’ The result was a name that motivates its members to think and work as a family. Today, that name is known across the continent, a testament to the dedication and passion that continue to shape Romafa’s business.