Construction Equipment Guide
470 Maryland Drive
Fort Washington, PA 19034
800-523-2200
Sat October 28, 2000 - Midwest Edition
In today’s “Here Today, Gone Tomorrow” business climate, any division celebrating a 25th anniversary is an achievement worth noting. This summer, Whayne Supply’s Power Rebuild Center (PRC) in Louisville, KY, marked its 25th year of service to its customers.
Whayne also has a Rebuild Center serving Caterpillar equipment users in eastern Kentucky. Whayne’s PRC opened in 1975 with a 20,000-sq.-ft. (1,858 sq m) building with one goal in mind — to meet customers’ ever increasing needs for quality, warranted Caterpillar rebuilt engines, transmissions and components — faster and more efficiently.
As business moves into the new millennium, that original PRC directive has not changed. “Customers need us now more than ever,” said Granny Herthel, Whayne’s corporate manager of service operations in charge of the Louisville PRC. “We save them time and money, prolonging the useful life of their equipment. Avoiding downtime is critical to our customers, and having off-the-shelf, in-stock availability of the engine or transmission they need makes us a real partner in their profitability.”
Whayne’s two rebuild facilities are staffed by more than 60 component rebuild specialists, using the latest tools, techniques and testing equipment to assure fast rebuild to exacting tolerances. Louisville’s PRC is a 29,000-sq.-ft. (2,694 sq m) climate-controlled rebuild shop with a transmission and hydraulic test cell, and a 2,000-hp (1,491 kW) engine dyno. Corbin’s PRC covers 35,000 sq. ft. (3,252 sq m) and has nine specialized rebuild areas, a transmission and hydraulic test cell, and a 2,500-hp (1,864 kW) engine dyno.
Most customers typically choose to take advantage of the exchange program when extensive wear is indicated or performance problems arise with their equipment. Whayne Supply’s Service Department — or the customer — can quickly install rebuilt Cat engines, transmissions or other major components from those in-stock at Whayne branches. All rebuilt units carry a full Whayne warranty. Sometimes customers choose to have their own components rebuilt as a “firm priced” repair rather than trading for an exchange component.
The reconditioning of engines and transmissions is the primary role of the Power Rebuild Center. When an engine is scheduled for rebuild, it arrives at PRC and is drained, thoroughly cleaned and disassembled. Each component and part is thoroughly checked and inspected for wear or damage. Only parts that meet stringent reusability guidelines are used to rebuild the component. New replacement parts are used when required.
After inspection of rebuilt components, the engine is then re-assembled and sent to the Dynamometer Test Station for a complete battery of tests, including work-load testing. After testing is complete and the engine passes final inspections, it is then repainted. A Whayne Supply Company identification plate is then attached to the engine documenting the rebuild. Transmissions go through similar rebuilding steps and testing — and also receive a plate signifying the Whayne rebuild and warranty.
Upon completion, rebuilt engines and transmissions are then shipped to respective Whayne branches and put into inventory to await a customer’s exchange needs. Besides engines and transmissions, PRC rebuilds a long list of components — including hydraulic cylinders, and motors and pumps — all warranted like new, and placed into Whayne’s exchange inventory. Three years ago, a full service radiator shop was added to PRC, with specialized equipment to clean, test, repair or recore conventional and folded radiators for most Cat equipment.
“Our PRC business has grown steadily over the years,” said Terry McCrary, vice president of product support. “For our customers, exchange is an economic necessity, and PRC allows us to keep our shelves stocked with the units they need.”
In 1975, only a few other Cat dealers saw the future in rebuilding. “We were one of the first dealers nationwide to make a significant commitment to rebuild — now it’s a major part of our business and service to our customers,” McCrary said.
But success doesn’t happen by accident. “We’ve been successful for twenty-five years thanks to many hard-working, committed Whayne rebuild specialists in both Louisville and Corbin,” Herthel said. “We’ve got a great team behind PRC.”
For more information, call 502/774-4441.