The operator of a 44-
ton capacity Komatsu
HD325-6 rigid-frame
haul truck dumps shot
rock into a hopper at
Wendling’s Springville
crushing operation.
Wendling Quarries in 1987. Since then, the Manatts have expanded the quarry operations considerably.
“Back in the early days of Manatt’s, Inc., my dad used to worry about getting enough work to pay for the four or five employees they had at that time,” Tony recalled. “That’s something we’ve never forgotten. We’re very proud of the fact that our companies provide a lot of good jobs for a lot of good people and it’s a responsibility we take very seriously.
“We’re also working hard to carry on the reputation that my dad and his brothers built through the years,” he added. “When we shake hands on a deal and give our word, you can take it to the bank that we’re going to stand behind it. We try to treat everybody fairly and honestly—and while our customers are our top priority—we also consider many of our competitors to be good friends.”
Safety is number one
As might be expected from a company that prizes its employees the way Wendling Quarries does, safety is the company’s top priority at all times.
“There are three things that we emphasize in crushing rock,” said Manatt. “We want to always produce a quality product. We want to produce it quickly, efficiently and profitably. But most of all, we want to produce it safely. To us, it doesn’t matter how fast we crush rock or how well we crush it—if we’re hurting people when we do it, it’s not worth being in business. That’s why we do everything we can to ensure that all of our employees go home safely each night.”
 |
Springville Plant Manager Russell Heinsius is pictured with the Komatsu HD325-6 truck and the tunnel at the quarry site in the background at center. In 1998, Heinsius and Wendling crews constructed the 686- foot tunnel that helped connect the crushing site south of Highway 151 with property north of the road. Operators of the 488-horsepower Komatsu truck, which was acquired from RMS last year, use the tunnel to move material from north of the road to the crushing spread on the south side of Highway 151. The total haul length is almost a mile. |
To that end, Wendling Quarries meets and exceeds all MSHA safety requirements. The company has CPR-trained personnel at all sites, whether or not it’s required. It has toolbox talks/safety briefings each morning. It also trains people, not just when they’re hired, but periodically throughout the year.
“Our position is that every accident is preventable,” said Manatt. “That’s why we also report and closely monitor all accidents and near-accidents. Then each month, our safety director meets with production managers and myself to go over what happened and why, in an effort to resolve the issue so we can do better the next time.”
Partners in production
One of the prerequisites for working safely and productively is good equipment. That’s why Wendling Quarries turns to Road Machinery & Supplies Co. for much of its equipment needs.