APPLICATION SPOTLIGHT: WILCO MANUFACTURING
Background
Wilco Manufacturing, L.L.C. is an ISO 9001:2015 certified manufacturer of amphibious equipment based out of Lafayette, Louisiana.
Wilco produces a complete line of self-propelled, hydraulic undercarriages intended for retrofit to wide variety of heavy equipment requiring amphibious capabilities to tackle tasks such as pipeline construction, land reclamation & development, dredging, environmental clean up, levee & wet lands reclamation, power line construction, and storage pit maintenance, amongst others.
Wilco's undercarriages provide standard, production heavy equipment with a buoyant, stable platform upon which to operate and maneuver in aquatic environments and over rough terrain.
Examples of such heavy equipment include, but are not limited to, excavators used for earthmoving/material handling, cranes for lifting, and ditchers for crust management and/or mosquito control.
In addition to their retrofitting operations, Wilco also offers Customers services for the design, engineering, and fabrication of customized solutions tailored to their needs (e.g. amphibious personnel carriers), in-house and road service options for most amphibious equipment brands, a large fleet of rental equipment, a large inventory of both Wilco and OEM replacement parts, and refurbishment options for both wearable parts, as well as most amphibious equipment.
Opportunity
Retrofitting of Wilco's amphibious systems to heavy equipment generally requires that various modifications be made to the OEM design.
One specific modification includes the welding of brackets to the excavator body that are used for mounting a removable walkway around the cab.
This process basically consists of:
- precision removal of the OEM paint from the body at the weld sites,
- welding of the brackets to the body,
- precision preparation of the bracket and weld seam surfaces for coating application, and
- application of coatings to these areas.
Prior to Wilco's introduction to Terra-Tech blast systems, the Terra-Tech Team discovered that steps 1 & 3, above, were being completed by way of manually (hand) sanding these areas — a laborious process requiring 4-6 hours to complete per unit — during a visit to the Wilco facility.
In light of this discovery, the Team identified this as an excellent opportunity to introduce Wilco to Terra-Tech wet-abrasive blast systems by way of an on-site demo, and the resulting appreciation Wilco gained for the potential value that the technologies stood to offer when leveraged against the inefficiencies of their current process was virtually immediate.
Impact
Nearly a year later, the Terra-Tech TT15P wet-abrasive blasting system and Terra-Tech Prep-Pistol™ have become an integral part of Wilco's daily operations.
Terra-Tech technologies have enabled Wilco to optimize their surface preparation procedures by 90-95% — a process previously requiring 4-6 hours per unit may now be completed in as little as 15-20 minutes.
Want to explore the potential value that Terra-Tech wet-abrasive blasting technologies stand to deliver to your operations? Contact us today.
We're anxious to learn more about the challenges and/or opportunities specific to your scenario, excited to work with you on developing a solution and eager to earn and retain your business!