INTERVIEW
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mine as hoped. This project has ledother
companies to takenotice and contract
withWHECO.We currentlyhave two
major crane remanufactureprojects in
our facilities andmore beingnegotiated.
With the replacement cost of new
equipmentmany companies are exploring
the remanufactureoption if the returnon
investmentworks.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT YOUR JOB?
I tell Karen,mywife, Imaynever really
retire as I enjoy the industry somuch. I
grewup in the constructionbusiness and
heavy equipment has beenpart ofmy life
since Iwas a youngkid and it gets into
your blood. I enjoy thedaily challenges
as there arenever two that are the same
and every time thephone rings this
proves tobe true. I enjoy thepeople and
the relationships that I havemadeover
the years. Somehavebecome very close
friends. In thebigpicture, this is really a
small industryof veryhardworking and
goodpeople. I enjoyour teammembers
as they are like family and somehave
beenwithus formany,many years.
WHAT’S YOURBUSINESS PHILOSOPHY?
Simple: “Honesty and Integrity.”This
was instilled inmebymydadwhobuilt
his construction companybasedon those
simple twowords. If you treat people
like that you can sleep at night. This is
not only the companies youworkwith
and for but thepeople thatwork for and
with you.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE ADAGE ANDWHY?
“EveryDay is anOpportunityDisguised
as aChallenge.”This is framed andon
mydesk. It speaks to theway I think, and
the first time I read it I had toput it in
print. It keeps youbalancedwhen things
maynot be going theway youwishedor
thought they should.Mywifewill tell you
I am the eternal optimist.
WHAT DO YOU LIKE TODO IN YOUR LEISURE
TIME?
Mywife and I enjoy traveling and
meetingnewpeople and seeingnew
places. TheOregonCoast is our favorite
place andwedon’t get there enough. This
business provides uswith theopportunity
to travel even thoughmany times it is
work related.We also enjoyour yard, kids
andgrandkids.Myone vice is antiques
and especiallyold toys.Myoffice is
linedwithold antique toys, someover
100 years old.Most all are crane and
construction related.
■
ACT
JUNE 2014
broadenedour scope inwhatweoffer and
expanded the typeof customerwe serve.
Weused tobe gearedmore to the crane
rental companies but now split that about
evenlywith the general contractors in the
industry.
TELL US ABOUT ARECENTWHECO PROJECT IN
WHICH YOUARE ESPECIALLY PLEASEDWITH?
Wewere contactedbyoneof the largest
mining companies in theworld about
extending the lifeof a 38-year-old, 300-
ton truck crane another 20 years. This
crane is unique in that it canoperate
around themine in full configuration
withminimal support. Amoremodern
crane takesmorepeople and support
equipment. Theplanningpart of this
project took almost two years ofmeetings
until itwas finally funded.
The cranewas shipped toWHECO’s
SantaFe Springs, CA facilitywhere it
was completelydisassembled to abare
weldment. Everyweldon the cranewas
third-party inspected anddocumented
to assure itwas still structurally sound.
All systemswere completely rebuilt or
replaced. Thepower and torquewas
increased in the carrier togive it better
maneuverability andperformance in the
mine. The electrical, air andhydraulic
systemswere all updatedor upgraded
wherepossible. The cranewasmade
more service and repair friendly, which
the guys in the field appreciated andhad
some input on. Lastly amodernLMI
systemwas installed.
The cranehas beenperforming at the
themwe are really an asset to their
product, not a liability. For years, and
yes even today, there are repairs being
performed that in all realitydonotmeet
theOEM’s requirements or complywith
FederalOSHA.WHECOhas always
performed its repairswith the cards face
upon the tablewith full documentation
ofwhatwedidor do.Wehavebeen
repairing equipment for over 30 years
andhave learned a lot in that time.On
theOEM side, this is anew avenue and
the learning curve is long andhard for
some cultures to change. That saidwewill
continue towork at it andhopefullywin
them all over.
ISBUSINESS UP, DOWNOR THE SAME AS A
YEARAGO?
WHECO’s volume is upbut youhave
toworkharder and smarter toget the
business and there is lessmargin in the
work.When the ball rolledoff the table
in2008 a lot of equipmentwas parked,
andwhen apiecedidhave an accident it
wasmany times just parked and replaced
with another idlepiece.Wehave seen a
resurgence in theuseof equipment but
withguardedoptimism.We attended
ConExpo andwere encouragedby the
exuberanceof the attendees.Wehave also
Themine cranewas shipped toWHECO’s
Santa Fe Springs, CA facilitywhere it
was completely disassembled to a bare
weldment. The electrical, air and hydraulic
systemswere all updated or upgraded and a
modern LMI systemwas installed.
