Rathdrum's Bayshore Systems shares success story

There are few images more recognizable than the massive high-tension powerline grid towers that march across today’s landscape. 

The foundations of the towers are indeed massive, consisting of concrete footings up to 12 feet in diameter and 40 feet deep, drilled into all kinds of substrate. 

But how are these holes drilled in all kinds of terrain, 50 miles from the nearest town? 

That’s where Rathdrum's Bayshore Services, Inc. comes in. They manufacture massive, million-dollar augur drill rigs uniquely suited to do the job, reliably, under the toughest conditions.

Founded in 1978 in California by Herb Minatre and his late wife, Paula, Bayshore Drilling came into being because of Minatre’s conviction that there was a growing market for augur drills with the unique capacity to drill large diameter holes using a short drill rig that could stand away from the hole and operate under overhanging structures — which proved to be a specialized market niche.

In the difficult early years, Bayshore struggled to find that niche, all the while refining the rig design, manufacturing techniques and elements of customer service required for success.

A decade after Bayshore’s founding, the Loma Prieta earthquake struck California, causing widespread devastation and severely damaging numerous freeway bridges and overpasses, triggering a massive effort to devise a way to strengthen existing structures to meet more stringent earthquake standards in California and beyond.

The solution was to implement a retrofit program that strengthened existing structures by drilling a series of deep holes near the bases of the supports, pouring reinforced concrete skirts around each one, and finally bonding it to the existing structure; the problem was finding a short-offset drilling rig that could operate under existing freeway overpasses.

Enter Bayshore Drilling, which supplied the state’s contractors with dozens of drill rigs, at last putting the company on a strong financial footing. 

The rest is history. 

Bayshore quickly developed a reputation for manufacturing the most agile, accessible augur rigs on the market, backed by the most comprehensive after-market service and support.

Sixteen years ago, Bayshore operations relocated to new purpose-built facilities in Rathdrum’s industrial park, where they manufacture ever-larger, most customer-centric versions of the original rig. 

Today, Bayshore, with its world-class team of 125, has solidified its reputation as the premier U.S.-based manufacturer competing internationally for large-scale offset drilling rigs.

In the challenge of growing a global manufacturing business in North Idaho, Minatre sought strategic business coaching from the Small Business Development Center at North Idaho College, which has been a source of guidance and support through economic highs and lows. 

As Bayshore nears its 50th anniversary, it has built a high-performing team that can compete in the global OEM marketplace, resulting in strong customer loyalty and solid sales and profitability growth. Herb gives much of the credit for that success to the business coaching assistance from the SBDC.

“Frankly, without the support of the SBDC’s Bill Jhung, we wouldn’t be where it is today," Minatre said in a recent interview. “Bayshore is innovating to enter new market segments that will unlock next level of growth. SBDC’s support has been critical to that effort.”