DENISON, Iowa (AP) — A northwest Iowa firm is prospering by creating concrete security barriers for government buildings and other projects. The Sioux City Journal reports Petersen Manufacturing’s custom-made concrete planters and benches help keep office buildings and theme parks nationwide safe.

The company began nearly 101 years ago when founder L.T. Petersen invented an automatic livestock watering appliance that was popular with farmers and feedlots. During the farm crisis of the 1980s, the company developed more picnic tables, benches and planters. Those products helped make the company a preferred supplier of concrete security products after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

Sales manager Paul Schumacher says the company has developed ways to make the concrete barriers more attractive. And in recent years, there has been renewed interest in the company’s livestock waterers.