Based on earnings per ton, ArcelorMittal Dofasco is one of the most profitable steel operations in North America—and high-tech equipment provided by Caterpillar and Kress Corporation is one reason why.
“Improving our equipment decreases downtime and improves production,” said Dino Didiodato, shift coach at the company located in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
He’s talking about four new Kress Straddle Carriers, which transport, stack and sort steel slabs. Powered by Cat® C13 ACERTTM engines and featuring Cat gearboxes, final drives and hydraulic drives—all supplied by Caterpillar OEM Solutions—these components are backed by Caterpillar warranty and can be serviced by Cat dealers.
Also part of ArcelorMittal Dofasco’s fleet are two new Kress Pallet Carriers, multi-purpose vehicles that primarily transport raw scrap. They’re built using a Cat 631 Scraper chassis, with the rear carrier manufactured by Kress.
Onboard technology, machine reliability, operator comfort and cost savings are key reasons ArcelorMittal Dofasco chooses equipment provided by Caterpillar and Kress.
“We’ll be saving maintenance costs, which will help the company’s profitability,” said Daniel Matzeg, technology coordinator.
David Rodgers, mechanical trade specialist for the company’s heavy equipment repair shop, agrees. “There are fewer moving components and far fewer wear items,” he said about the pallet carriers. “That means less costly repairs.”
Located in Brimfield, Illinois, Kress Corporation manufactures large, specialized, rubber-tired vehicles used primarily in the steel, smelting and coal mining industries. Like many manufacturers, the company relies on Caterpillar OEM Solutions for Cat power trains and other Cat components to create unique equipment for specific customer needs.
