“Quality, ongoing training pays off on every front. We
find that a well-trained, carefully developed workforce
enhances company performance,” said Kevin Waschuk. “If
the job is performed efficiently, is in line with customer
expectations and carried out safely, it’s a win-win situation.
When the customer is happy, we’re happy, with employees
reaping the benefits of a job well done, and the cycle
continues.”
Attracting Generation Y – the technology
factor
To attract Generation Y – those born between 1980 and
2000 – it is important to understand them and what
motivates them. This generation takes state-of-the-art
technology for granted, along with 24 hour web access
and smartphones. They actively seek out ways to develop
their careers with companies that offer not only attractive
compensation, training and benefits packages, but are in
touch with the latest industry trends. In the construction
industry, they gravitate to those that invest in heavy
equipment that is reliable, safe and extremely user-friendly.
With its eye on the future, Waschuk knows that to recruit
the top talent of this younger generation, it must respond to
their expectations. One of the ways Waschuk is doing this
is to make certain that much of its fleet is extremely user-
friendly.
Earlier this spring, Waschuk took delivery of its first
converted Caterpillar D8R tractor equipped with Midwestern
Manufacturing’s new M583CH sideboom attachment
(Figure 4). By doing so, Waschuk is using a pipelayer that is
easier to operate; one that the computer-savvy generation
finds easy to learn because the sideboom is operated with
integrated joy stick controls. “For those about to retire, it
seems strange to look at the operator station and not see
the complex range of levers, but for our
new hires, it’s business as usual,” said Kevin
Waschuk.
Newly designed pipelayer offers
improved visibility, safety and
affordability
Attracting eager young talent was not the
only thing that motivated Waschuk to fit the
D8R dozer with a state-of-the-art sideboom.
“First, we consider the sideboom – and its
role in the pipelaying process – to be the
most important piece of the pipelaying
equipment spread,” said Trevor Schultz,
Equipment Manager for Waschuk. “Secondly,
from a business standpoint, we assessed our
fleet of D8R dozers in terms of lifecycle,
usability and resale value. Because they’re
extremely durable and still in great working
condition, we decided that rather than sell,
we would update and convert them.”
“But we didn’t want to fit just any
sideboom on it. After talking to numerous
operators over the past two years, we
decided to pursue a sideboom for the D8R. With the dozer’s
higher centre of gravity, we knew it would be challenging,
especially because it was critical that it be as safe and user-
friendly as possible. To achieve that, we knew we could rely
on Midwestern Manufacturing.”
Waschuk shares a positive, long-term relationship
with Tulsa-based Midwestern Manufacturing, the world
leader in sideboom attachments. Over the past 10 years,
Midwestern has supplied the company with 22 wet kits
and a dozen dozer-to-sideboom conversion kits. Given
the way these sideboom kits have performed in terms
of reliability, safety and usability, it was only logical
that Waschuk turn to Midwestern to fit the D8R with a
sideboom attachment.
“As fate would have it, when Waschuk contacted us
about converting their existing fleet of D8R tractors into
sidebooms, we already had plans in place to update our
existing M583CH design. So, the timing couldn’t have
been better,” said Joe Beffer, Executive Vice President of
Midwestern Manufacturing. “Drawing upon their research
and experience, Waschuk provided valuable feedback and
were supportive of the direction we were going with the
new design.”
The D8R tractor has proven to be a solid platform for the
hydraulic sideboom. The new design offers electrohydraulic
multi-functional joystick controls and a high capacity
pipelayer winch package with piston motors. Coupled with
the higher visibility afforded the operator and the ability to
update it with new technology, such as load monitoring, it is
very user-friendly and extremely adaptable.
For Waschuk, the D8R conversion is an economically
sound decision: for just a bit more than a quarter of the cost
of a new unit, the company has a well-engineered, purpose-
built pipelayer with a working life of 30 plus years.
Figure 4.
In spring 2015, Waschuk took delivery of its first converted Caterpillar
D8R tractor equipped with Midwestern Manufacturing’s new M583CH sideboom
attachment. With its enhanced operator visibility and ability to be updated with
new technology, such as load monitoring, it’s very user-friendly and extremely
adaptable.
22
World Pipelines
/
JULY 2015
