Elkhart Central Garage Chooses Hoosier Crane
Elkhart, Indiana - (November 2, 2009) The Elkhart Central Garage chose Hoosier Crane Service Company, a local company, to build and install a 10-ton crane for the facility. Elkhart Central Garage mechanics will use the crane to perform motor teardowns and other maintenance projects on the large vehicles in the city's fleet
including street cleaners, payloaders and dump trucks.
Hoosier Crane competed against several other companies outside the area. "We're pleased that the city picked a local business, especially since our community has been hit so hard by the recession," said Tom Schmidt, owner of Hoosier Crane. Hoosier Crane met Elkhart Central Garage's needs in two ways: they provided competitive pricing and they supplied a crane with a low headroom design. The city's garage has a floor-to-ceiling measurement of only 15 ft., 6 in. and the tallest piece of equipment has a height of 12 ft., 6 in.
Hoosier Crane installed a double girder hoist trolley that fit within the 3 ft. allowance and provided the clearance necessary to meet OSHA guidelines.
Before the installation by Hoosier Crane, the fleet department outsourced large-scale maintenance projects that cost the city approximately $10,000 annually. "An in-house crane gives an immediate $10,000 annual cost savings," said Joe Kaler, Fleet Manager. Kaler also noted that there will be a significant increase in productivity with the crane. For example, a street sweeper project will require only two men with the crane versus three men and two forklifts, without the crane. "We've done a number of teardowns with the new crane and I don't know how we did them in the past without it.We are also getting excellent service and support from Hoosier Crane," Kaler added.
The crane purchase supports the structured purchase/repair/replace policy developed by Kaler that has been endorsed by Elkhart city Mayor, Dick Moore. The policy for the city's fleet will, according to Moore, reduce costs and equipment downtime. Mayor Moore's commitment to using local companies for additional and replacement vehicles and equipment when possible will further strengthen a community trying to recover from
the recession.
Hoosier Crane Service Company provides overhead bridge cranes, hoists and related products, crane installation, support, 24/7 emergency service and OSHA compliance inspections and training. Hoosier Crane is locally owned and has 12 employees.
Company Information
Contact: Tom Schmidt
tomschmidt@hoosiercrane.com
(574) 523-2945
Hoosier Crane Service Company
58144 Charlotte Avenue
Elkhart, Indiana 46517
www.hoosiercrane.com
