Robbins, Wayne

Wayne Robbins met John Azar in the late 1950's. John was a plaster contractor who was manufacturing Moyno style tube and rotor pumps for other plaster contractors. John had a vision to build a pea gravel, "tube and rotor pump", for masonry block fill. His first models were very popular and Azar manufacturing was born. Wayne Robbins was the first production manager.

A couple of years later, Thomsen Equipment introduced a "loop style" manifold on a pea-gravel pump. At the same time, Wayne Robbins at AZAR introduced the first GRAVITY FEED-DIRECT-FLO Style C-30, with a hinged discharge cone for easy cleanout. The C-30 model was popular with the masonry contractors and became the industry leader.

While at AZAR, John and Wayne developed the "wet-gun" for wet shotcrete process; it had several advantages over existing gunite-dry process shotcrete. They received approval from the City of L.A. to wet-gun Wayne Robbins swimming pool at his home in Granada Hills, CA. It was the FIRST concrete pool shell to be constructed with this process.

In 1962, Marvin May purchased Azar Manufacturing, and Wayne Robbins came over as production manager, to be responsible for the hoist, scaffold lines and C-30 pumps.

Wayne took two of his AZAR employees with him and built the C-30s in lots of ten. Wayne had to SELL them before he could order more engines, steel, etc. for the next "run of ten".

With the success of sales and performance of the MAYCO C-30s, Mayco Pump CORP was incorporated in 1970 and Wayne became the first Vice President/General Manager. Wayne oversaw the growth of MAYCO from 2 or 3 C-30s a month, all the way to 719 C-30s in ONE YEAR [early 1980's]. He worked very closely with concrete pump operators to improve the pump for additional applications and stimulate the growth of "PUMPING SERVICES" throughout the U.S.

Wayne 's ability to hire the right people for production was excellent and his sales force continued to grow the dealer network .

Many concrete, masonry and plastering contractors bought their first concrete pump from Mayco Pump Corp. Many of these 'contractors' bought additional pumps and started concrete pumping services. Many of these same people own big rock line pumps and truck mounted booms today.

Wayne was heavily involved when Mayco introduced the FIRST hydraulic ball valve pump; shortly thereafter came Mayco's first made-in-USA hydraulic swing-tube pump. The Original Hard Rock trailer pump was designed to go from 0 up to 35 cubic yards per hour and handle up to 1" aggregate.

Mayco introduced plaster pumps in the mid 1980's and had developed the LS120 (120 cubic yard per hour) trailer pump before the 90's.

Mayco's growth and financial health were energized by Wayne's ability to develop new products at a reasonable cost and to design what the market needed then and still used successfully today.

Wayne retired in 1984 as PRESIDENT of Mayco Pump CP. and moved to the Pacific North-West. His grandson Toby has been living with him and Marjorie for the last year helping out as needed.

Wayne passed away on January 4, 2011 at his home in Sequim Washington at the age of 91. He is survived by his wife Marjorie and son Mike. They have three grand children Christi, Toby and Matt, and three great-grandchildren, Jessie, Kira and Liam.

Pumpers all of us, give appreciation and tribute to our Pioneer, Wayne Robbins.