Rich in History and Innovation

Superior is the collective of three highly regarded irrigation and manufacturing companies, Buckner, Superior Controls, and Storm Manufacturing Group. Our history goes back over a century to when Buckner was first founded in Fresno, California in 1912. Since then we have been innovators in the irrigation industry and integral to the maintenance and beautification of landscapes across America.

In 1912, Buckner was founded by William A. Buckner with the introduction of a patented slow-rotation sprinkler. Buckner continued to revolutionize the industry with new products such as the first hose-less irrigation system, the quick coupler valve, the hose swivel, and the sand-resistant bearing and cam-drive sprinkler. The famous Pebble Beach Golf Course was an early site of Buckner’s innovative automated irrigation systems. In 1998 Buckner became a part Of the Storm Manufacturing Group.

In 1949, the Superior Controls Company was founded in Los Angeles, California by Allen and Powell Greenland. Their claim to fame was the introduction of the first adapter designed to convert a manual valve to automatic. They also introduced the first diaphragm-operated remote-control valve to the irrigation industry. In 2006 Superior Controls became part of the Storm Manufacturing Group.

The history of the Storm Manufacturing Group dates back to the early stages of the irrigation industry. Walter Storm purchased a brass foundry in Los Angeles, California in 1932, and his foundry eventually became a key supplier to many of the major companies in the irrigation industry. In addition to supplying his competitors, Walter’s company, Western Brass Works, became a leading innovator in agricultural irrigation, receiving numerous patents for their unique technological advancements.

Over the years, Storm has manufactured quality products under the brand names of Western Brass Works, Superior Controls, Buckner, West Ag, Imperial, and Western Raintrol. These businesses evolved to become the Storm Manufacturing Group. Now consolidated under the Superior brand, we continue to represent the performance, dependability, reliability, innovation, and efficiency that have been industry standards for more than a century.

Innovation Milestones

2020 Superior Plastic Valve is introduced 1995 No Minimum Flow Master Valve 1955 Superior made the first electric adaptor for manual irrigation valves 1968 Western Brass Works receives patent for constant flow rate for orifice devices 1966 Western Brass Works receives patent for Sequencing Valve with Integrated Surge Control and Pressure Drop Actuated 1965 Western Brass Works receives patent for reaction-jet attachment for water sprinklers 1965 Western Brass Works receives patent for Quick - Connect Valve 1957 Western Brass Works receives patent for control of impact sprinklers 1932 Buckner introduces the first hose-less irrigation system 1932 Buckner introduces a cam-drive sprinkler 1932 Buckner introduces a sand resistant bearing 1921 Buckner introduces the quick coupler valve 1912 Buckner introduces a patented slow rotation sprinkler

2020

Superior Plastic Valve is introduced

1995

No Minimum Flow Master Valve

1968

Western Brass Works receives patent for constant flow rate for orifice devices

1966

Western Brass Works receives patent for Sequencing Valve with Integrated Surge Control and Pressur Drop Actuated

1965

Western Brass Work receives patent for reaction-jet attachment for water sprinklers

1965

Western Brass Work receives patent for Quick-Connect Valve

1957

Western Brass receives patent for control of impact sprinklers

1955

Superior made the first electric adaptor for manual irrigation valves

1932

Buckner introduces the first hose-less irrigation system

1932

Buckner introduces a cam-drive sprinkler

1932

Buckner introduces a sand resistant bearing

1921

Buckner introduces the quick coupler valve

1912

Buckner introduces a patented slow rotation sprinkler