Name: Forward with Kriete Season 2 Episode 1: Veriha Trucking
Uploaded: 2023-11-21 09:06:30
Duration: 193 s
Description: Putzmeister America

Putzmeister America / Mack Trucks

What does a global construction leader and Wisconsin have in common? From the surface, not much. But that’s where you might be surprised: It’s not about what’s on the surface, but what it’s made of.

“Made by Putzmeister” is a globally recognized brand synonymous with concrete pumps and quality. What started in 1958 in Germany with the simple goal of making work easier for an average laborer, Putzmeister has built a reputation as the market leader in building concrete pumping machines.

“Kriete knows concrete pumps. This is very important for us because it’s a different animal,” says Jason Talbot, CEO of Putzmeister Americas. “Kriete is spread across the state and that is helpful to our customers, and it is their proximity to us. It’s a very local service for us, which is important because when we need something, we need it fast.”

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Since 1999, Kriete Truck Centers has been providing Putzmeister with Mack Trucks, which Putzmeister outfits with concrete pumps at their North American headquarters in Sturtevant, Wisconsin. As the undisputed leader in concrete, Mack Trucks has a clear advantage by building the complete truck from end to end. As the Chassis Planning and Production planner at Putzmeister Americas, Tom Easter starts this process, working closely with his Mack Trucks Sales manager at Kriete Truck Centers. “Mack is the most accepted truck in the concrete pumping industry, and it’s just grown so much over the years”, Easter says. “Getting a base truck from Mack and having the dedicated crew at Kriete Truck Centers hammer that into shape for what we need, is a winning recipe.”

Before getting the chassis to Putzmeister headquarters, the Kriete Truck Center team prepares the body of the truck to Putzmeister’s specifications. Jim Fleece, Production Manager at Putzmeister, coordinates the completion of this equipment at the Putzmeister facility. In his role, he oversees chassis deliveries, mounting, paint, and then coordinates the delivery of the truck to the customer. The Kriete Truck Centers team assists this process with updating axle locations, programming for the ECU and any other options like pusher axles or tag axles that may be specified in a specific Putzmeister order. “They do all that prep work for us and then they deliver it. If we have any problems, they’re right on it. They’re fast, they’re reliable, they’re easy to work with,” Fleece says.

Fleece has used Mack Trucks since 1999, and says, “We work with Mack hand-in-hand. With the technologies of the newer chassis, coupled with Putzmeister’s pump technology, Mack has collaborated on an engineering solution. It streamlines production flow that we don’t experience with other chassis manufacturers. It takes a lot of the pressure off us.”

To enhance support and meet industry demands for Putzmeister equipment, Kriete Truck Centers expanded its services by investing in a 12-bay workshop equipped with a cutting-edge paint booth in Racine, Wisconsin. This paint booth and workshop is designed specifically to handle the size of concrete pump equipment, mounted on both the Mack TerraPro® or Granite® models. “We take pumps on trade and Kriete Truck Centers rebuilds those for us as needed to get it to a saleable and safe condition.” Talbot explains, “The Kriete team has that industry knowledge to rebuild concrete pumps. The Kriete facility is so close to our facility, that if they need to help or information, we’re right here. The true advantage lies in the passionate team that establishes an unparalleled support network for Putzmeister’s customers. It’s a good service that Kriete provides to us.”

“Mack offers a pumper hotline that is a tremendous help. Customers call the hotline to create a case file, which becomes visible to Kriete, and the Kriete team is on it,” says Fleece. Combined, this team has many years of industry experience and consists of a Department Manager, Service Advisor, and nine technicians (seven of whom are certified boom inspectors) and ready to provide a range of support from parts to service, either in-person or remotely. “Our dedicated Putzmeister crew averages 19 years of industry experience, mastering diagnostics, repairs, testing, and inspections to prepare equipment. We’ve already climbed the learning curve,” says Lee Arquette, Concrete Equipment Repair expert who oversees the Kriete team.

Putzmeister, known for its strength and reliability, is revolutionizing how we build our world. With advancements in 3D printing, digitization, and battery/electric products, Putzmeister leads the industry in innovation and product development. “The demand for these products will continue, and they must become safer, better, and perform at a higher level,” Talbot explains.

The collaboration between Mack Trucks, Putzmeister, and Kriete combines technically advanced products with industry leading customer support. But beneath the surface of this partnership lies its true strength: it’s all brought together by the dedicated and hard-working people driving it forward.

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