Tag Archives: Bucyrus

November 15, 2010 · 9:55 am

Caterpillar Acquires Bucyrus: What Does That Mean for South Milwaukee?

Caterpillar is acquiring Bucyrus International in a $7.6 billion deal.

Here is the press press release, and check out coverage from Reuters and the Journal Sentinel.

So, what does this mean for South Milwaukee? I wish I knew. I was as surprised as anyone with this announcement. But this quote from Bucyrus CEO Tim Sullivan is telling:

This is an outstanding and financially compelling transaction for our shareholders. More fundamentally, it is a testament to the tremendous value our talented team of employees has created over the past several years and to the strength of our brand in the global mining machinery marketplace. I am confident that we have found an excellent partner in Caterpillar. Caterpillar is a first-rate global company and it shares our commitment to providing innovative products and exceptional service to customers, creating a collaborative and safe work environment for employees and minimizing the impact on the environment.

We are very pleased that Caterpillar has committed to locate its mining business headquarters in Milwaukee and we are confident that the combined global platform will be extremely well positioned to capitalize on the substantial growth opportunities in this market in the years ahead.

Headquarters in Milwaukee? Not sure what that means. Maybe “Milwaukee area”? After all Bucyrus now has operations in South Milwaukee, Oak Creek and Milwaukee after recently acquiring the former Midwest Airlines headquarters building on Howell Avenue.

The Reuters story says: “Caterpillar said it would locate its mining business in South Milwaukee, Wisconsin.”

I tend to believe that South Milwaukee will continue to play a major role here. With the hundreds of millions of dollars Bucyrus recently put into its local manufacturing operations, I can’t envision much of a change there. The South Milwaukee and Oak Creek office complexes are another story, however, and it remains to be seen what amount of change we’ll see there going forward.

After all, how many white collar workers will Bucyrus need now that it’s part of a global behemoth like Caterpillar?

There is an 11 a.m. CT teleconference that I am sure will yield more details on this. I’ll keep you posted.

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November 7, 2010 · 12:27 am

Gold Medal for Local Author and Other Headlines of Local Interest

If you have young children in South Milwaukee, you may know of Janet Halfmann.

She’s a talented local children’s book author who has been a regular at the South Milwaukee Library, Downtown Market and other local activities.

She’s also an award-winner. Halfmann recently received a Moonbeam Award in the preschool picture book category for her book “Fur and Feathers.”

Learn more on Jerianne Hayslett’s South Milwaukee NOW blog and on the awards website.

And check out these other headlines of local interest:

Also check out County Supervisor Patricia Jursik’s November E-News newsletter here. It includes items on the budget, buses, parks, Hoan Bridge and South Milwaukee’s “pinkout.”

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November 1, 2010 · 11:15 pm

Vilter Investing in Cudahy and Other Local Headlines of Note …

Vilter Manufacturing Corp. is investing $1.6 million in its Cudahy factory.

Click here to see the Business Journal story on the planned technology and innovation center. From it:

The 7,000-square-foot center is contained within Vilter’s sprawling plant at 5555 S. Packard Ave. The project includes the installation of new equipment to create a state-of-the-art laboratory and testing facility.

And check out these other headlines of interest from around the area:

And check out this Journal Sentinel blog item mentioning South Milwaukee quarterback and kicker Sam Oliden and his heroics over the weekend.

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October 26, 2010 · 1:19 pm

State Tax Credits for Bucyrus’ Expansion into Oak Creek

Gov. Jim announced on Tuesday $20 million in assistance for Bucyrus International to aid in its expansion into the former Midwest Airlines headquarters building in Oak Creek.

Read the Journal Sentinel story here. Read the press release here. From it:

Bucyrus is investing $44 million for the project, including $5 million for worker training and $39 million in capital investment to rehabilitate the former Midwest Airlines headquarters in Oak Creek. Bucyrus is known for producing high-quality mining equipment for companies around the world and has grown to 10,000 employees in nearly 100 worldwide locations.

As I’ve blogged about before, I am happy about Bucyrus’ continued growth, and what that will mean for South Milwaukee. The company has been a wonderful corporate citizen over the years, and I’m excited about what the future will hold locally.

At the same time, I’m disapointed that the company’s official headquarters designation is expected to be “Oak Creek” at some point. I wish we could have had a chance as a city to truly dig into what expansion opportunities were available on or near its existing campus in South Milwaukee.

To me, that name on the press release means a lot. It’s a pride thing.

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October 22, 2010 · 11:43 am

Bucyrus Deal Approved and Other Local Headlines of Note

The Export-Import Bank gave its final approval Thursday to loan guarantees that will pave the way for an Indian company to purchase $400 million in equipment from South Milwaukee’s Bucyrus International — and save hundreds of local jobs.

Learn more in this Journal Sentinel story.

And check out this item on Bucyrus’ third-quarter earnings, also announced on Thursday. Earnings fell 15.7% on costs related to the acquisition of Terex Corp.’s mining equipment business.

Here are some other local headlines of note:

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August 26, 2010 · 9:38 pm

Bucyrus Equipment Order One Step Closer to Reality and Other Headlines

As expected, the Export-Import Bank voted Thursday to reverse course and approve loan guarantees for an Indian company looking to purchase $400 million of equipment from Bucyrus International.

The decision is expected to save hundreds of jobs in the area that were in jeopardy after the bank originally voted against the guarantees.

Read the Journal Sentinel story here and check out these other headlines of interest from around the area …

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August 25, 2010 · 11:07 pm

Another Reason to Believe the KRM is Dead and Other Headlines of Interest

When you have even Democratic lawmakers like U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore speaking out against the Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee commuter rail line, you can say with some confidence that the project — and all of its potential benefits for South Milwaukee — is irreparably off-track.

You can read more about her unfortunate and misguided comments — and the other factors working against the KRM project — in the Journal Sentinel here.

And here are some other headlines of interest from around the area:

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August 11, 2010 · 2:25 pm

No FEMA Money for Homeowners? … and Other Headlines of Interest from Around the Area

Not surprisingly, the Federal Emergency Management Agency has determined that only governments, not individuals, are eligible to receive federal aid following last month’s floods.

Or has it?

See the full, and confusing, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel story here.

And check out these other headlines of interest from around the area …

That last story is an especially interesting look at some of the great work happening at the Wil-O-Way facility at Grant Park.

I’ll keep you posted on the FEMA decision.

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April 10, 2010 · 9:36 pm

Big Success: Spring Market Draws More than a Thousand Area Residents

Well, the time and energy were worth it. More than worth it.

The South Milwaukee Spring Market was a resounding success, with more than a thousand people pouring into Bucyrus International’s wonderful Heritage Building on Saturday.

Vendors reported extremely strong sales, with a couple local restaurants (Azteca and Nona’s) selling out of food and a third (Wild Flour Bakery) nearly so.

Similarly, customers seemed quite happy, and they had good reason to be. The market offered something for almost everybody, and the South Milwaukee Chamber Business Fair, the exhibits by our local non-profits and music from several talented South Milwaukee High School students only enhanced the experience.

The space itself also helped make the market a winner. If you had a chance to attend — and judging by the lines of people found at various points throughout the day — you know what I’m talking about. The Heritage Building, with its adjoining Bucyrus Museum, was a perfect setting for the market. I can’t thank Bucyrus enough for use of the building.

Now it’s on to the summer market, which returns every Thursday starting June 3. Of course, I have a suspicion this will not be the last indoor market we do at Bucyrus …

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April 8, 2010 · 11:06 pm

All the Best from Local Vendors: Join Us for the Indoor Spring Market Saturday at Bucyrus!

Tasty baked goods from Wild Flour and Nona’s. Fresh apple cider, honey and eggs. Two dozen local artists and crafters showing off their talents. Live music. Even a Chamber of Commerce business fair and space devoted to some local nonprofits. All in the really cool Bucyrus International Heritage Building.

And it’s free.

Welcome to the South Milwaukee Spring Market!

Join us this Saturday, April 10, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. inside the Heritage Building — on 10th Avenue, across from the South Milwaukee Library — for our first-ever Spring Market.

Consider it a preview of the summer event, which returns every Thursday afternoon and evening starting June 3 at 11th and Milwaukee Avenues. In fact, you’ll recognize some of our Spring Market vendors from the summer market … but we also have some great additions for this special event. But why not see for yourself on Saturday?

And while you’re there, why not stop by the Bucyrus Museum? This cool, and relatively unknown, museum is also located in the Heritage Building and open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., the same hours as the market. Admission is free.  

Learn more about the Spring Market in this press release and on our website at www.smdowntownmarket.org.

It’s been a pleasure to be a part of bringing this event and the summer market to life, and I look forward to seeing you there. Bring your family and friends!

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April 7, 2010 · 9:26 pm

Council Votes to Bring Bicycle Race to South Milwaukee … and Bucyrus Steps Up

The bikes are coming!

The City Council voted unanimously Wednesday night to enter into a three-year agreement with the producers of the International Cycling Classic and bring one of the ICC’s 17 bike races to the city. The likely date is July 20, and the location has yet to be determined.

Learn more about the ICC at its newly designed website here.

This is a great “get” for South Milwaukee, and I promise we’ll do this right … making race day more than about a bicycle race. This will be a real community event, a point of pride for South Milwaukee residents and an attraction to those from outside our city, including the more than 500 cyclists, many from outside the U.S., taking part in the day’s races.

All of this is possible thanks to Bucyrus International. Our city’s largest employer has stepped up as the 2010 event’s title sponsor — and in doing so help defray any costs facing city taxpayers. The company deserves major credit for doing so, and I can’t express enough thanks.

Of course, now the real work starts, thinking big on the event while also dealing with all the details necessary to put on a successful bike race. 

Stay tuned for plenty of more details on the partnership with Bucyrus and the race in coming days and weeks. And put July 20 on your calendars!

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December 20, 2009 · 11:03 pm

Striking Gold: Huge Acquisition for Bucyrus, Huge Opportunity for South Milwaukee

South Milwaukee just became the epicenter of the mining equipment business.

Bucyrus International has announced a major acquisition — a $1.3 billion dollar deal with Terex Corporation that will make it the world’s largest mining equipment manufacturer and perhaps bring 500 new jobs to our city.

From the Journal Sentinel story:

South Milwaukee-based Bucyrus said it is acquiring the mining division of Terex Corp. in a move that could double the size of Bucyrus’s market from roughly $15 billion to more than $30 billion a year in potential equipment sales. Combined, the two companies would have about 10,000 employees in 100 locations. As a result of the acquisition, Bucyrus plans to add manufacturing and office jobs in South Milwaukee, where both the Bucyrus and Terex product lines will be managed.

“We plan to continue having our worldwide headquarters here,” Bucyrus CEO Tim Sullivan said in a Journal Sentinel interview.

Said Sullivan in a press release: “We are extremely excited about acquiring Terex Mining and we believe that this is a unique opportunity to build an even stronger company for our customers, employees and shareholders.”

And a stronger company for South Milwaukee. What a big win for our city.

“This is a big story for Milwaukee, and it’s a huge story for our industry worldwide,” Sullivan told the Journal Sentinel. “It changes the competitive landscape completely.”

Look for more details after a Bucyrus conference call on Monday. You can read the Journal Sentinel story here and see the entire press release here.

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November 19, 2009 · 11:49 pm

Mining Growth: Things Are Looking up for Bucyrus

What’s good news for Bucyrus International is good news for South Milwaukee.

And that’s why it was nice to see a respected financial publication take a strongly positive view about our city’s largest employer — especially in these tough economic times.

The news come from Investor’s Business Daily, which ran a very positive story about the mining equipment manufacturer this week. From the story:

Overall, Bucyrus shares benefit as a consensus grows that the global slump in mining equipment will not be as deep as had been feared.

You can read the full story here.

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October 30, 2009 · 4:02 pm

Some Stories You May be Interested in …

Headlines of interest from the past week  include this interesting and thought-provoking article from Milwaukee Magazine on Bucyrus International.

King Coal: Most of the world’s strip-mining is done with Milwaukee-made machines. Few metro-area economies are more dependent on coal.

Also, check out this story from The Daily Reporter on the location of stations for the Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee (KRM) commuter rail extension — a project that I strongly support as a way to grow our city and lift our downtown. I’ll explain my thoughts more in an upcoming posting.

And  check out these two stories from the Journal Sentinel:

And this one from The Business Journal about the South Milwaukee Blockbuster at Grant Park Plaza closing. That’s disappointing news.

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