Big equipment, big community event
The public display of O-N Mineral?s new $3.2 loader at the front gate of the Calcite plant last Wednesday turned into a huge community event. While the 2007, 994F CAT wheel loader was scheduled to be on display until 1 p.m., people started streaming down Calcite Road as early as 9 a.m. to see if company crews brought out the 22-foot tall piece of equipment early. ?The equipment got down there around 11 and that was it — it was steady until the equipment was put away at 6 p.m.,? said Sue Counts, human resources supervisor. Students and children from Posen and Rogers City, along with Calcite retirees and local residents, came out to get a glimpse of O-N Mineral?s newest addition, but were surprised to find more than they had expected.
COMPANY OFFICIALS parked a 190-ton haul truck and an 18,000-gallon water hauler along the east side of Calcite Road. It looked like a parade of large vehicles on the east shoulder of the road. ?We were very pleased with the show of support from the retirees,? said Counts. ?They know how important a piece of equipment like this new loader is for our plant.? The operation is looking for an increase in shipping in the coming years, with newly signed contracts in 2008, and equipment that can handle the additional load. The company retired a 10-year-old Hitachi loader that had met its life expectancy. The new loader was shipped north from Ohio in pieces starting in February. It is estimated that about 1,000 people showed up to see the equipment, take pictures, and sign the tires on the new loader. There was a steady line of children and adults waiting to take their turn with a marker. ?WE WERE all very excited at the number of people that came to share in the excitement of our new piece of equipment,? said Counts. ?The community involvement was phenomenal.? Also attending the event were a handful of representatives from CAT. In all, three kindergarten classes and two second grade classes from Rogers City Elementary School were bused down to the site early in the afternoon.
?They all got to sign the tire and it was a big hit,? said Counts. What?s next for a more open, community-friendly O-N Minerals? Sharing information with the local residents.
?We want the community to know what is happening at Calcite so we can all share the excitement of our great plant,? said Counts. The plant has been slowly coming to life with workers being called back from layoff and the arrival of the first freighter, ?American Republic,? Sunday. It arrived in the morning and left later that evening.