Doepker Industries, a family business comprised of six brothers, began in 1948 as a company named Doepker Brothers. Francis, a welder, and Bernard, a mechanic, began by repairing neighborhood farm equipment. The business grew to include a combination bulk/oil dealer and stock hauling operation.

In 1950, Francis, Bernard, and Ted built a 40x60 wood-frame building at the present site of Doepker Industries. Francis displayed a talent for building, improvising, and inventing. Bernard engaged in mechanical repairing, while Ted hauled pigs and cattle from Annaheim to Saskatoon and was in charge of office duties.

In 1952, Ray took over the trucking duties, leaving Ted to take care of the purchasing and bookkeeping. Ray took pride in his work and his growing fleet of pick-up trucks, especially when the white Freightliner "semi" was added to the fleet of five in 1968. This "semi" was purchased because shipping hogs had nearly become a business of its own. By 1972, this enterprise had grown to 400-500 hogs per week.

Jerome, known as the handyman, joined the business about the same time as Ray, while Don, the youngest of the brothers, came in 1956. Although he also started out as a handyman, he later became the lathe expert for the modernized plant. He also contributed ideas on what to build and how to improve products.

Francis' ingenuity paid off when, in 1956, he obtained a patent for the first hydraulic harrow drawbar. These drawbars were accepted by farmers near and far as the machine to own. However, Francis' inventiveness did not stop there, for he soon designed a new rotary snowplow which quickly gained popularity. Before long, Francis had concluded proceedings to obtain his second patent - the rodweeder. Sales for this product also flourished.

The increasing industrial output serviced an ever-widening public - far beyond the bounds of the local farmers. By now, business had spread to encompass the prairie provinces and the northern States, forcing the six brothers to think about expansion. They decided to build a 60x120 cinder-block structure in 1962.