"Single-Source Responsibility" Works for Grand Rapids Contractor/Pumper 2002

Entrepreneur Dennis Schreur, owner of Cherry Valley Concrete, Inc., Grand Rapids, MI has watched his concrete construction operation, Cherry Valley Concrete, Inc. grow from a small, specialized company into a full-service pump, place and finish firm. In 1976, the one-man operation provided residential construction services and specialized in flatwork. Currently, Cherry Valley Concrete, Inc. boasts an employee roster of 120 and a strong reputation in residential and commercial concrete construction. With its own impressive fleet including three Schwing pumps, Cherry Valley prides itself in what Schreur calls "single-source responsibility," and stands behind each and every job they complete.

With the capabilities of their pumps, Cherry Valley Concrete, Inc. performs pump, place and finish jobs for commercial projects including department stores, universities and government buildings in the western Michigan area. In addition, as a member of the Grand Rapids and Greater Kalamazoo Home Builders Association and the Associated Builders & Contractors, Inc., the company’s six forming crews undertake hundreds of residential jobs a year. In fact, Cherry Valley helped build 700 homes in 1999 and Schreur estimates they complete an average of 500 foundations every year. The ownership of Schwing pumping equipment allows the company to complete quality work for builders throughout Michigan and Indiana.

A Successful Partnership The company’s expansion began in 1997, when Schreur purchased a Schwing 32-meter boom pump. Local pumping firm owner Charlie Cross strongly encouraged the decision and sold him the pump.

"Cross Enterprises is one of the few competing operations that sincerely believes that anyone pumping concrete should own their own pump," says Cherry Valley operations manager Rick Sanders.

Soon after the company purchased the pump, Rick Sanders left his position at a local pumping firm and offered his services to Schreur. "I’ve pumped concrete my whole life, and I’ve known Denny Schreur just as long," said Sanders. Since joining the crew over five years ago, Sanders has operated the pumps and coordinated scheduling for Cherry Valley.

Cherry Valley continues to rent Schwing pumps from what is now known as Cross/Superior Concrete when scheduling is tight and their own equipment is busy at other sites. Sanders gives full credit to Cross’s operation as one that dedicates itself to customer service and quality workmanship. Cross branch manager Michele Thompson said, "We like having a customer base that includes pump owners. Our partnership with Cherry Valley is a win-win working relationship."

Confidence in a Quality Manufacturer With their combined experience in the industry, both Schreur and Sanders have confidence in the versatility and performance of Schwing products. After the purchase of the 32-meter pump, the company continued to expand and improve its fleet with other equipment by the same manufacturer.

In 1999, the company purchased the Schwing KVM 39X, which boasts the longest boom on three axles. The 39-meter pump impressed the crew immediately. In its first year with Cherry Valley, the 39X completed about 550 jobs. According to Sanders, the particular model is so efficient it shaves 20 to 25 minutes off job completion. The machine features both X-Style outriggers and a maneuverable boom with a vertical reach of 127 feet. The combined use of these features allows for easy, compact set up in tight conditions and the ability to reach every single corner of a large job site. With this pump, Cherry Valley crews can complete five jobs a day. Sanders is consistently impressed with the pump’s capabilities. "It’s one of those things; you can’t imagine how you got along without it before," he said.

Five Seconds of TV Fame While on exhibit at the World of Concrete Convention in 2000, the Cherry Valley 39X caught the attention of a photographer filming the event for a History Channel documentary on concrete. The unit was on a turntable at the Show and Cherry Valley’s paint scheme is particularly attractive. Proudly displaying the Cherry Valley logo and the custom paint job, the Schwing pump can be seen briefly in the 50-minute program.

The Benefits Keep Adding Up Over the past few years, Cherry Valley Concrete, Inc. has reaped the benefits of owning Schwing equipment. Sanders claims that with the compact set-up and reaching capabilities of both the 32 and 39-meter Schwing pumps, the concrete construction season extends into the winter months. "We can set up virtually anywhere. We avoid placing the pumps in messy conditions by simply sending the boom over sloppy areas. If we used mixers in those conditions, trucks might get stuck," he said.

Sanders also emphasized the importance of providing a pump on the job site for ready-mix suppliers. "They like to work with clients that use boom pumps because it’s less work for them. We get special consideration because after the job is completed, the suppliers have saved both time and labor. Because the pump provides the placement, there is no need to add additional chutes to their equipment, and they have less to clean up."

The Schwing pumps also compliment the other machines within Cherry Valley’s fleet. The company’s Somero S-240 Laser Screed works faster when fed a steady stream of mix from an end hose. Because pumped concrete is generally more homogenous than concrete straight from the chute, there are fewer callbacks which enhances the company’s reputation for quality concrete work.

The most recent addition to Cherry Valley’s fleet is the Schwing 750 trailer pump. The pump can complete small jobs that would otherwise require the use of a boom pump, such as footings and mezzanine work. At a fraction of the cost of owning a boom, the trailer pump offers a versatile and dependable backup in the completion of several small miscellaneous jobs. "In the summer the trailer works three to five days a week," Sanders said.

Owning Pumps is a "No brainer." According to Schreur, it is easy to justify the purchase of all of the company’s pumping equipment despite the availability of pumps in the Grand Rapids area. "It was a no brainer," he said. Ownership and in-house maintenance of the company’s Schwing equipment illustrates Schreur’s belief in quality workmanship and "single-source responsibility."

In addition, Schreur claims that ownership of equipment is a basic matter of economics, and considers the boom pumps in particular investments. By his estimation, the pumps have maintained 80 percent of their value after five years and through ownership, the president and founder of Cherry Valley Concrete, Inc. expects to continue building equity.

The company has recently extended its quality services to other areas of the Midwest through their new offices in Plainwell, Michigan. Dennis' son Andy Shreur runs the operation from the new location.