Even as the Stroh Corporation crew ran into an unexpected roadblock—actually, a mud-filled pit—in the midst of an urgent installation effort, they stayed on schedule, thanks to the ease of installing Blue Angel Pumps from Wayne Water Systems. Stroh was able to clear the mud and install reliable new pumps in the few days it had to meet its customer’s expectations.
Based out of Des Moines, IA, Stroh has made a name for itself as a company businesses trust when it comes to mechanical and electrical contracting. Stroh prides itself on quick, quality work that leaves the customers satisfied. Providing their customers not only the best service but also the best products on the market has been a main priority of Stroh’s since day one.
By making the switch to installing Blue Angel Pumps, Stroh found that areas such as pre- and postplanning for jobs, installation times, and call-backs related to pump failure had dropped dramatically. “They’ve crafted a rugged, professional pump,” said Dan Whalen, mechanical project sales member at Stroh. “Often times, we’re called out to large businesses that require our immediate attention. We need products that offer us the ability to supply our customers with the most durable, job-ready products on the market, at a moment’s notice.”
“Because of prior experiences, we knew getting the basin and pump installed would be a breeze; it’s one of the reasons we choose the T50E.”
—Dan Whalen, Mechanical Project Sales Member, Stroh Corporation
Never has this been more relevant than on a recent call to a jobsite at Helena Industries. As heavy rain hammered Des Moines, Helena experienced flooding at their shipping and receiving dock. With shipping and receiving sidelined, Steve Kloewer, maintenance manager at Helena Industries, put in a call to Stroh. “We had experienced flooding at this particular loading dock location in the past, and as a direct result of the inability to ship, we’ve had to apologize to quite a few customers,” said Kloewer. “When we put the call in to Stroh, we made it very clear that we needed the job done quickly, and we needed a product that could withstand heavy rain and the harsh winters.”
With under a week to assess the jobsite, excavate, and install the new effluent pump and basin, Stroh got to work planning immediately. “Typically, we take our time during the planning phase; however, it was made abundantly clear that this loading dock needed to be drained and cleaned up as soon as possible,” said Whalen. Picking a product that would be durable enough to last 10 years, heavy-duty enough to pass solids, and easy to install would prove easy for Stroh. Whalen selected Blue Angel Pumps’ T50E ½ HP Submersible Cast Iron Effluent Pump for the job. “We’ve had great success partnering with Blue Angel Pumps in the past,” said Whalen, “When we took into account how positive feedback has been from past clients in regards to their Blue Angel Pump, including the fact that it is assembled in the U.S., it was a no-brainer for us.”
The T50E ½ HP Submersible Cast Iron Effluent Pump checked all of the categories that Helena Industries had required. It included ½ horsepower (HP) performance, with a max flow of 78 gallons per minute, a cast iron motor housing to extend the life of the pump, and the capacity to withstand below-freezing temperatures. It also included a corrosion-resistant thermoplastic impeller and the ability to pass up to ½” solids, which would keep the shipping and receiving dock at Helena free of water.
Once Stroh had picked the product they would use, it was time to get to work. Planning as efficiently as possible, work was started to drain the loading dock of the existing water. After draining the standing water, Stroh began to excavate the area and hit a roadblock. Because of the heavy rain the week before, mud had filled the existing sump pit. “We had no idea the situation was so bad. We now understand why the area flooded so often,” Kloewer explained.
With only a couple days left to complete the project, work was started to remove the current pit and mud. After clearing the area and existing pit, the new basin and Blue Angel Pump were installed. “The installation process was extremely quick,” Whalen said, “Because of prior experiences, we knew getting the basin and pump installed would be a breeze; it’s one of the reasons we choose the T50E.”
“There’s a reason we decided to approach Stroh with such a stringent deadline,” said Kloewer. “We had a unique situation that was directly affecting how we provided for our customers. Given the situation, the roadblocks that stood in the way, and how quickly Stroh was able to complete the project, we’re walking away completely satisfied with this collaboration.”
“As our industry advances and new techniques are discovered that make the job easier for contractor and customer, we’re always looking for ways to improve our processes,” said Whalen. “The collaboration between Stroh and Blue Angel to provide Helena the best service and quality, easy-to-use products in such a short amount of time makes this a win-win for us.”
For more information, visit www.waynewatersystems.com.
