Tag Archives: Bucyrus International

August 6, 2013 · 1:37 pm

New Job For Tim Sullivan

Tim Sullivan, the former head of Bucyrus International, is heading to Pennsylvania to become CEO of Gardner Denver Inc.

The Business Journal has the story.

Here is the press release. From it:

“I am enthusiastic about leading Gardner Denver and I am confident in the near- and long-term potential of the business,” said Mr. Sullivan. “Gardner Denver has a highly diversified business portfolio of market-leading products and solutions, strong customer relationships and a passionate team of highly talented employees. Under Michael’s leadership, the Company expanded its global footprint and leveraged its best-in-class technologies to become a worldwide industry leader. I look forward to working closely with the Board and leadership team to refine the Company’s strategy, enhance performance and build upon the Company’s positive momentum. I believe Gardner Denver is very well positioned to capitalize on the many opportunities ahead.”

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February 15, 2013 · 7:51 pm

Caterpillar Names New Mining Chief

It didn’t take Caterpillar long to find a new head for its mining business.

Dow Jones is reporting that Tom Bluth will succeed Luis de Leon as vice presidents of mining products — a role especially significant to South Milwaukee given the work performed at the large local plant and office building.

You will recall De Leon resigned in January after reports of “accounting misconduct” in China — conduct, sources told Dow Jones, that de Leon wasn’t involved in. De Leon is a former Bucyrus International executive.

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January 20, 2013 · 11:02 pm

Report: Local Caterpillar Exec Leaving Company

Update: This Dow Jones story links the departure of de Leon with the accounting “scandal” in China, although “de Leon wasn’t being accused of accounting misdeeds.”

Luis de Leon, a vice president at Caterpillar’s mining division and Bucyrus International’s former chief operating officer, is leaving the company, according to this story in the Business Journal.

From it:

De Leon was vice president of Caterpillar’s mining products division. Peoria, Ill.-based Caterpillar (NYSE: CAT) has its mining equipment headquarters in Oak Creek and operates plants in South Milwaukee and Milwaukee.

“We wish Luis well in his new endeavors,” said Steve Wunning, Caterpillar group president with responsibility for resource industries, in a written statement.

Caterpillar said it will name a replacement for de Leon in the near future.

Also, “Caterpillar Inc uncovered ‘deliberate, multi-year, coordinated accounting misconduct’ at a subsidiary of a Chinese company it acquired last summer, leading it to write off most of the value of the deal and wiping out more than half its expected earnings for the fourth quarter of 2012,” according to this story from Reuters and other reports.

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January 7, 2012 · 10:43 pm

Gurda Draws Parallels And Differences Between M&I, Bucyrus Acquisitions

Local historian John Gurda has another great piece in Sunday’s Milwaukee Journal Sentinel — this one taking a closer look at the acquisitions of M&I Bank and Bucyrus International in the past year.

“Before 2011 disappears completely in the rear-view mirror,” Gurda writes, “we should pause to consider two local business giants who lost their independence during the year. One succumbed to failure and the other, ironically, was a victim of its own success. Those icons, you may have guessed, are M&I Bank and Bucyrus International. They’re both still with us, in most of the same locations and with substantially the same products, but they operate under different principles and entirely different principals.”

As for Bucyrus, he writes:

Turnabout, I suppose, is fair play. Milwaukee snatched Bucyrus from Ohio in 1893, and now an Illinois firm was returning the favor. Caterpillar moved quickly to secure its new prize, changing the signs on the South Milwaukee plant to yellow and gold almost overnight.

The Caterpillar sale was a tribute to Tim Sullivan’s management skills, a windfall for stockholders and a testament to the quality of the Bucyrus labor force. Whether it works out for the long-term benefit of those employees and their communities is a question that only Caterpillar can answer.

Check out the column here, and post your comments below.

By the way, Gurda also spoke at the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center on Saturday. The topic: “A Region Built on Water: Milwaukee’s Use and Abuse of a Vital Resource.” If you went to the show, I’d like to know what you thought.

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September 20, 2011 · 9:19 pm

Celebrating Bucyrus: Plaque Unveiling Set For Saturday, Sept. 24

I’ve definitely lamented the loss of the Bucyrus name from South Milwaukee on this blog … which is why I’m glad to see the efforts of former Mayor Chet Grobschmidt and others to memorialize the mining manufacturer pay off.

A brass historic plaque commemorating Bucyrus as an icon in the world mining industry will be unveiled and dedicated at a ceremony at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 24, at Heritage Park on 10th and Milwaukee Avenues.

The plaque depicts the history of Bucyrus since its founding in 1880, its relocation to South Milwaukee in 1892 and its “retirement” in 2011 as Bucyrus International. Check it out here.

All are encouraged to attend the ceremony. I hope to see you there!

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May 20, 2011 · 11:12 pm

Feds Clear Caterpillar’s Acquisition of Bucyrus

As expected, the U.S. Justice Department has cleared the Caterpillar-Bucyrus deal.

Here is the press release, and here is an item from WISN. From the release:

The DOJ action, in addition to the expiration of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act waiting period, concludes the antitrust review process in the United States.  The clearance by the DOJ will allow the acquisition, valued at approximately $8.6 billion (including net debt), to proceed as soon as all other conditions to closing have been satisfied. The transaction is expected to close in mid-2011.  

What do you think of the deal and its potential impacts on South Milwaukee? Post your comments below!

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May 19, 2011 · 10:07 pm

Bucyrus Unveils Its Renovated Visitor Center And Museum … And It’s Terrific

Bucyrus International continues to invest in its South Milwaukee campus.

The company held a grand opening celebration for its newly renovated visitor center today, and I was happy to attend and get a first-hand look at its new three-story museum — an upgrade from its one-story facility — as well as a new company store and theater, all part of its Heritage Building.

My review? In a word, outstanding.

From the interactive features aimed at young people on the first floor to the library — named for outgoing Bucyrus CEO Tim Sullivan — on the third floor, the museum does a great job of telling the story of Bucyrus … a story that is distinctly South Milwaukee.

And the best part? The museum will now have regular, daily hours:

  • Sundays and Mondays: Closed
  • Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • Thursdays: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
  • Fridays: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Also, Bucyrus is planning regular plant tours.

The renovations were done over the winter, and I am glad to see this project completed. I see it as a strong sign of Bucyrus’ continued commitment to South Milwaukee even with the looming acquisition by Caterpillar.

The next step is to see how we can leverage this major investment as a community. That potential is limitless.

In his remarks about the renovation Thursday, Sullivan specifically cited the company’s interest in making the facility a destination for visitors, and based on what I saw it most assuredly will be. He said the company is working with Visit Milwaukee to make this happen, working to attract everyone from local convention attendees to bus tours.

Think of it … a busload of tourists having just visited the Harley-Davidson Museum makes their next stop at Bucyrus, spending an hour or two at the museum before heading out to a downtown restaurant, the Downtown Market or the South Milwaukee Performing Arts Center for a show. Or maybe they make a sidetrip to the Seven Bridges at Grant Park.

Think of the potential economic impact that brings to our city.

Well, this is not just a fantasy. This may be reality sooner rather than later thanks to this major investment in a truly unique community attraction.

Thank you, Bucyrus. Now, let’s tell the world about this!

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May 17, 2011 · 10:52 am

Tim Sullivan for Senate?

I must admit, I did not see this coming.

But he certainly has a strong business background, and Ron Johnson has proven you can win a Senate seat with those credentials. And with Paul Ryan announcing he is not running, the field is a bit more open.

Check out the story from WTMJ-TV here.

What do you think? Post your comments below, and vote in my new poll!

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May 17, 2011 · 8:36 am

Stepped-Up Competition for Bucyrus, Sen. Larson on Concealed Carry, Sheraton Eyes Oak Creek and Other Local Headlines

Check out these headlines from around the South Shore:

Also, City Clerk Jim Shelenske has published his monthly eVents newsletter, with details on happenings around town in coming weeks. Check it and all things South Milwaukee out at his website: www.southmilwaukee.org.

And I wonder if this Bay View bike race is the International Cycling Classic’s replacement for the Bucyrus International Cycling Classic? I still feel bad we’re not bringing this event back to South Milwaukee this summer … maybe next year.

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May 10, 2011 · 10:16 pm

Ladish Deal, Bucyrus CEO, Emerald Ash Borer and Other Local Headlines of Interest

Check out these headlines from around the South Shore:

Also, check out this interesting read about a South Milwaukee woman reminiscing about her family farm in western Wisconsin.

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April 22, 2011 · 11:02 am

Bucyrus Earnings Rock

Bucyus International is doing quite well ahead of its acquistion by Caterpillar, with first-quarter earnings jumping 61 percent on strong demand, the Oak Creek-based company reported Friday.

Check out coverage in The Business Journal and Journal Sentinel, and here is the press release from the company.

Caterpillar’s deal to acquire Bucyrus is expected to close by mid-2011.

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February 18, 2011 · 2:14 pm

Report: Sullivan to Leave Bucyrus After Acquisition

Update: Here is a Journal Sentinel story, four days late.

Apparently, Tim Sullivan will not be sticking around Bucyrus International once the company is formally acquired by Catperillar Inc.

Check out the story from BizTimes.com here. From it:

In January, Bucyrus announced that it will be acquired by Peoria, Ill.-based Caterpillar Inc. When the acquisition was announced, there was speculation that Sullivan may stay with Caterpillar in some capacity.

But today Sullivan said that he and Craig Mackus, chief financial officer and secretary of the company, would not be staying with Bucyrus once its acquisition by Caterpillar is complete.

“We’re done at closing,” Sullivan said. “I think that’s for certain.”

This is concerning to me, given Sullivan’s close ties to the community and area charity efforts. Losing him in a public role with the company is a blow to South Milwaukee and the region.

I am anxious to see who the “new face of Bucyrus” will be once the deal is done, if there even is one. Indeed, how active will Bucyrus be in the city with new corporate ownership? That remains to be seen.

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