THE SECOND TIME AROUND
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Equipment Upgrades
Ferchak estimates the company will spend $50 million on new cranes alone this year. A little more than 10 percent of that outlay will be in the form on one 800-ton mega-machine that arrived in late May. "It's the biggest hydraulic crane in the country and we have it. That's going to be one very popular piece of equipment," Anthony predicts. Ferchak says that crane will allow the company to perform jobs that require a reach of as much as 400 to 500 feet, such as high-rise air conditioning installation, oil rig work and wind turbine repairs.
"There aren't a lot of wind turbines in Florida now because they're trying to design them to withstand hurricanes. But, they are working at it and we'll be able to repair them," Ferchak says.
The company is equipped for jobs as small as placing trusses for single-family homes as well as large as the upcoming move of a generator weighing one million pounds into place at a power plant coming online in West Virginia.
That will require every bit of the company's expertise and equipment including the 800-, 650– and 500 ton cranes and a gravity system. "The move will take close to three months starting from North Carolina, then by rail to Chattanooga. Then we'll pick it off a barge in southwestern Pennsylvania, offload it again, then haul it to the site and set it," Ferchak says.
People First
As a matter of routine every job site is inspected before a crane ever arrives. "Each location has its own crane specialist. We inspect the site for everything, especially ground stability. You need to know what's underneath you before you bring a crane in," Ferchak says. Approximately half of the company's 315 employees are operators. All receive training and certification through the National Crane Certification Organization (NCCO). "Experience is the key for us. I'd say we're close to 12 to 15 years per guy and we've had guys come back who worked for Mr. Anthony in the past who have more than 30 years in the business," Ferchak says. Having people who understand the business is crucial. We have good guys on top and great guys on the bottom. When people come back and say "I want that operator," then you know they're doing a good job," Anthony says.
Looking Ahead
Based on first-quarter figures, the company projects a 33 percent revenue increase from 2007 to $55 million this year. Plans call for an aggressive expansion campaign designed to double its size in five years and, Ferchak says to branch out through the Southeast and along the Gulf Coast".
Ferchak cites Anthony's work ethic and personality as reflective of the company as a whole. "What I want to stress is that Mr. Anthony's commitment and his work ethic is no different today than when he started. It takes hard work to succeed and he instills that into everybody every day. He know every person in this company by name and he'll grab a pair of gloves and go into the yard and help. His work ethic is what makes this company, what drives this company," Ferchak concludes.
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