Pipelayer Demand Creates More Jobs

EAST PEORIA—As U.S. President George W. Bush toured Building SS in January, he passed several inprocess pipelayers—big yellow track-type machines that lay the pipes that deliver oil and gas around the world. The tour looked much different than it would have a year ago because of the recent addition of a new pipelaying machinery line and 15 people to work it. "The energy concerns in the world are creating a demand for a product that just wasn't there a year or two ago," said Kurt Wrage, Pipelayer NPI & Engineering manager. "To put it in perspective, pipelayers made up less than one percent of our production in 2005. This year, it will be over 10 percent."

According to Lonnie Shelton, a manufacturing engineer who helped with the line startup, pipelayers are more difficult to manufacture due to the complexity of the machine. And with the production boost, employees had to learn how to build these complex machines quickly.

"Employees went through extensive training before starting on the assembly line," he said. "Assemblers and supervisors studied work tickets and visual aides together. They also talked through questions and concerns to familiarize themselves with the new processes. It was a big challenge and a lot of work to learn, but now volume isn't an issue." Curtis Horton, one of the assembly and test specialists who had to learn quickly, agreed. "I'm really proud that we got it [the pipelayer line] off the ground like we did," he said. "We've been meeting our high production goals while keeping ourselves safe."

Regarding safety, employees in this area have had no recordable injuries since the start of the line—325 days and counting. Much of that can be attributed to the advanced training. Another reason is the use of new tools like the Part Manipulator—the first of its kind in Building SS. "In the past, overhead cranes were used to move heavy pipelayer parts into place, and those parts tended to swing on the lift chains," said Shelton. "The Part Manipulator does the same kind of work, but it gives the operator a much greater level of control."

With the company's commitment to safety, quality, and velocity and expected growth in oil and gas exploration, drilling, and pipeline development, Caterpillar^® engine and machine sales should benefit. In fact, Houston-based Cat Global Petroleum reports that for every pipelayer sold, at least two more pieces of Cat^® equipment are sold with it. "Our increased pipelayer production capability is giving us a worldwide edge," said Wrage. "We'll be able to address some customer demand that our competitors won't be able to." Now that's good news for all of Team Caterpillar.