Mosser Construction Inc. is known for its culture of partnering with clients and for self-performing almost every aspect of any project it takes on. The Fremont-based company, with an annual volume of about $120 million, is involved in sectors such as heavy highway, water treatment facilities and building construction. It’s common for all three departments to work on the same project, such as the current expansion of Collins Park Water Treatment Plant in Toledo, noted Doug Shealy, vice president.
That $55 million project, where Mosser is constructing two 20-million-gallon concrete basins, required a larger crane than the company owned. Mosser turned to the experts, its crane operators, to select a new 110-ton crawler crane, and the experts chose the Link-Belt 218 HSL.
Crane operators Mark Rosenberger and Chris Smith spent weeks of personal time studying charts for 110-ton cranes from Link-Belt and two other competitors. They focused on the radius spec, Rosenberger explained. “We are a duty-cycle company. We do a lot of repetitive lifts like pouring concrete. In this class, Link-Belt outperforms the competition for the radius we do most of our work in.” With the Link-Belt, that’s 100 to 190 feet out.
By moving up from 80-ton cranes, which have a radius of 90 to 150 feet, “we gain an additional 40 feet with the Link-Belt. That really opens up the job site and allows us to reach more work without having to move the crane around two or three times a day. It makes us far more productive,” he said.
The 218 came with other sizeable benefits, too. It’s easier to transport and requires fewer loads than competitors. It’s also easier to assemble and tear down. Support from Columbus Equipment Company also factored into the decision. “We’ve always gotten great support from Columbus Equipment Company,” Shealy said.
The new crane was delivered to the Toledo jobsite at the end of March, and Columbus Equipment Company came out to assemble and test it.
Since then, the crane has proven its versatility, said Smith, the 218’s operator. “We pour a lot of concrete out of buckets. I can take a yard of concrete in a 160- or 170-foot radius and it’s cheaper than renting a pump.” Many of the pours are only 10 to 20 yards, so a pumper isn’t practical anyway.
Smith has used the 218 to swing forms to the walls and unload re-steel. “Having the extra boom and capacity with this crane allows me to put the steel where the workers need it without moving the crane.” He was also able to pick a 21,000-lb. prefab concrete structure when an excavator couldn’t remove it from the truck.
Both operators, with a combined 45 years of experience, like the roomy cab. “It’s a very comfortable, solid, sound machine,” Rosenberger said. “It’s very user friendly.”
The LMI (load moment indicator) showing the maximum load rating at your working radius is a time-saver, he said. “If someone wants to know if we can go out another 5 feet, the LMI tells you without having to consult a load chart. That can save you 10 to 15 minutes.”
Smith finds the large flat front window of the Link-Belt provides a distortion-free view compared with the curved glass on American brand cranes. He also appreciates the master control switch that simplifies shutdown.
The company, which started out building elementary schools, is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year. Today, Mosser—an employee-owned (ESOP) company—operates all over northern Ohio, working on large public and private projects that can impact the lives of Ohioans, such as building safer roads, Shealy noted.
With many complex projects successfully completed, Mosser Construction has proven the benefits of prudent decision making, as well as teamwork and partnering.