When you manufacture tunnel boring machines, any celebration is bound to be big … just like the machines.

Such was the case Thursday, when Akkerman Mfg. celebrated its 35th anniversary with an open house at its Brownsdale manufacturing facility.

There were guided tours of the new expansion area, plus live demonstrations of equipment used in the manufacture of tunnel boring machines.

There was food and entertainment, too, and today the anniversary celebration of pipe-jacking and tunneling innovation continues with a golf outing at Austin Country Club.

Maynard Akkerman, president and owner of Akkerman, Inc., said Akktoberfest was worth it.

“Obviously, I’m very proud and happy to be here today with 35 years behind this second-generation company,” he said.

“We’ve been so blessed over the years,” said the man named Trenchless Technology’s 2008 Person of the Year. “We’ve had great customers and great employees. Great things come out of that.”

Akkerman Mfg. was founded in 1973 to meet the needs of the trenchless industry.

Maynard’s father, Donald Akkerman (deceased) and Don “Red” Lowe founded the company.

At Thursday’s open house, the first boring machine — the Model 360 — made in 1963 was on display.

Steve Garbisch, the company’s area marketing manager, was one of the tour guides.

Garbisch explained how far the company’s machines have grown. “Originally, when we made the first machine it was 44 inches in diameter. Now, we build machines up to 158 inches.”

The tours took guests through the sales and work order production area, aftermarket support, engineering, purchasing department, welding, initial process building, machine shop and parts, where a $3-million inventory is held.

Assembly and production, shipping and receiving — “The heart of what is going on” Garbisch called it — painting area and a spacious conference collection with a dramatic photo collection on the walls showing the evolution of the tunnel borning machines.

Guided borning machines, 36-inch powered cutter head, the finished goods area and the company’s flagship product: The 5000 Series Pipejacking System were there to be examined up-close.

Today, the company sells or leases new and used microtunneling, pipejacking, tunneling, guided boring and earth pressure balance equipment around the world.

Recently, it began manufacturing operations in a new expansion area the Brownsdale facility. “We’re operating in the expansion and very happy with the way it turned out,” Akkerman said.

Thursday’s open house attracted more than 150 customers, including clients from the United Kingdom and Mexico.

What’s ahead for Akkerman, Inc.”

“I have three sons and one of our sons, Derek, the oldest son, will be joining the company in December,” he said. “We have every intention to stay in the area. We continue to grow and we have some exciting new products.”

“I see nothing but good things to happen here,” he said.