PVS Structures

Owen Industries Welding Apprentice Program

by | Mar 27, 2017 | Company, Company Culture/News, Industry News, PVS Structures

Brad Dittman

Owen Industries Welder Apprentice Program

Apprentice Interview: Brad Dittman

Carter Lake, Iowa-based Owen Industries (an AISC member) is now an official registered apprenticeship sponsor and offers a three-year, competency-based welder apprenticeship program. In August the company began an interview and selection process, seeking four welder apprentices to offer on-the-job training as well as worksite classroom training, in partnership with Iowa Western Community College, at no cost to the apprentice.

Brad Dittman started as one of four apprentices in the program in September 2016.

Brad worked as a truck driver delivering construction supplies prior to working at Owen Industries. His grandfather had been a welder and Brad was really looking to have a solid technical skill he could make a career of. He had done some welding in high school, and was enrolled in the welding program at Metro Community College. Brad saw the Apprenticeship Program on line and applied.

Brad states the program has been interesting; he’s enjoyed the more complex welds he has learned here. He, along with the other apprentices, has enjoyed welding columns for the nuclear site jobs, he enjoys being a part of a large project and projects that are located all over the country.

Brad values the expanded knowledge he has learned in the welding apprentice program, and appreciates the willingness he gets from his more experienced co-workers. They are always willing to go above and beyond to help and share information that can only be obtained through work and experience.

Brad feels that this is the place he has always been looking for. He likes the day hours, and that fact that he is close to home and able to be with his friends and family every night. Having a regular work schedule is an additional perk to having a valuable and solid career skill.

Owen Industries’ welder apprenticeship program is an ongoing program and open to anyone who applies at their Carter Lake, Iowa, location, regardless of where they live. For questions or more information about the program, please contact Ronald D. DeBord, Owen Industries Vice President of Human Resources, at 712.347.5500 or rdebord@owenind.com.

Owen Industries Welding Apprentice Program

by | Mar 9, 2017 | Company, Company Culture/News, Industry News, PVS Structures

Thomas Stalbosky

Carter Lake, Iowa-based Owen Industries (an AISC member) is now an official registered apprenticeship sponsor and offers a three-year, competency-based welder apprenticeship program. In August the company began an interview and selection process, seeking four welder apprentices to offer on-the-job training as well as worksite classroom training, in partnership with Iowa Western Community College, at no cost to the apprentice.

Thomas Stalbosky started as one of four apprentices in the program in September 2016.

Thomas had taken some welding classes in high school, this included mostly simple welds. His high school class was incorporated with Metro Community Colleges welding program which initiated his interest in welding.

Thomas worked as a shift supervisor at a car wash prior to applying for the welder apprentice program. Owen Industries working with Iowa Community College combines both on-the job and classroom education. During classroom training, Thomas has worked completing some stands that hold wire and conduit and has turned out to be one of his favorite projects.

Thomas has enjoyed working on seventy-one foot columns that will be placed in a Georgia nuclear plant. These will be the supporting columns for containment for this plant. This is a project that is cherished by many of the apprentices.

Thomas stresses consistency in welding as an importance for all welding projects.

Thomas likes the atmosphere at Owen Industries, the great people he works with and good mentors. He has several co-workers who have gone above and beyond to make sure he is trained and educated properly and have shared their experiences with him to help make him successful.

Owen Industries’ welder apprenticeship program is an ongoing program and open to anyone who applies at their Carter Lake, Iowa, location, regardless of where they live. For questions or more information about the program, please contact Ronald D. DeBord, Owen Industries Vice President of Human Resources, at 712.347.5500 or rdebord@owenind.com.

Thomas Stalbosky

Owen Industries Apprentice Program

by | Feb 24, 2017 | Company, Company Culture/News, Industry News, PVS Structures

Owen Industries Welder Apprentice Program

Carter Lake, Iowa-based Owen Industries (an AISC member) is now an official registered apprenticeship sponsor and offers a three-year, competency-based welder apprenticeship program. In August the company began an interview and selection process, seeking four welder apprentices to offer on-the-job training as well as worksite classroom training, in partnership with Iowa Western Community College, at no cost to the apprentice.

Apprentice Interview: Nick Ciurej

Nick Ciurej started as one of four apprentices in the program in September 2016.

Nick worked at a local car dealership with plans to go to school to be a mechanic. Changes at his dealership pushed him to look at other career options. After seeing the size of the Owen Industries campus, his interest in working at Owen Industries grew. In his first 6 months, he has become close with many of his co-workers and enjoys the broad spectrum of experience that has been shared with him by his co-works who have knowledge that ranges from newly hired welders to many decades of welding expertise. His current journeyman has taught him many valuable things that cannot be learned in a classroom, only from working on projects with a skilled and accomplished welder.

Nick has enjoyed working on columns that will be placed in a future nuclear plant. These will be the supporting columns for containment for this plant.

Nick learned quickly that the proper attire is critical for welding, he had a “nice sunburn” on his arms the first day, he’s always sure to wear long sleeves to work now. And he stressed the importance of following procedures by the book.

Owen Industries’ welder apprenticeship program is an ongoing program and open to anyone who applies at their Carter Lake, Iowa, location, regardless of where they live. For questions or more information about the program, please contact Ronald D. DeBord, Owen Industries Vice President of Human Resources, at 712.347.5500 or rdebord@owenind.com.

 

Sustainable Structural Steel

by | Feb 20, 2017 | PVS Structures

Sustainable Structureal Steel

Steel, by virtue of its high recycled content and capacity for reuse, is the ideal structural Steel for projects seeking to meet sustainable goals. Since the creation of the Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design (LEED) rating system by the United States Green Building Council in 1996, the organization has undergone four iterations, and was used to rate approximately 45% of nonresidential construction in 20151.  With the creation of Standard 189.1 by ASHRAE and the International Green Construction Code (IgCC) by the International Code Council, there are now numerous methods through which sustainability goals can be achieved.  At PVS, we are equipped to address the dynamic requirements of this emerging market and to provide documentation for each step of the process.

As an American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) and ISO 9001 certified structural fabricator, PVS is preferred by clients, locally and nationally, due to our proactive project development, strategic sourcing and meticulous documentation. Our process is informed by our contribution to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Colorado, which, as a LEED Platinum project, represented the highest standard in sustainable construction and required the innovative use of salvaged material, including structural steel, and close collaboration between all members of the construction team. In addition to this, 13 years of experience in exceeding the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Nuclear Quality Assurance-1 (ASME NQA-1) standard has given us the knowledge necessary to meet the stringent requirements of the LEED, ASHRAE, and IgCC standards.

THE STRUCTURAL STEEL FABRICATION PROCESS

PRE-BID

Early collaboration with the design team allows PVS to maximize its contributions through carefully considered material sourcing and selection of subcontractors that meet sustainable standards and adhere to the project schedule. PVS will also work to identify potential cost-saving opportunities at the onset of the project.

ESTIMATING

With LEED requirements in mind, the estimating department at PVS will coordinate with erectors, detailers, and mills in the region to ensure that they meet all necessary criteria for your structural steel. Specific project goals will be conveyed to the structural team members early in the process to ensure proper documentation is provided.

DELIVERY

Different shipping methods increase the allowable travel distance for structural steel material. With careful freight management, PVS can deliver the highest quality material from a wide range of approved industry partners.

DOCUMENTATION

The Project Management team at PVS will provide the travel distance and recycled content of our material in a standardized format to ease the review process and ensure that the targeted goals are met or exceeded. All items requiring documentation will be tracked and available for evaluation throughout the construction process.

Please contact Brent Pfeiffer at bpfeiffer@pvsteel.com or call 712-347-4289

Sustainable Structureal Steel
Sustainable Structural Steel
Sustainable Structural Steel
Sustainable Structural Steel
Sustainable Structureal Steel
Sustainable Structural Steel

Owen Industries “Living Legends” Bill Hollis

by | Feb 10, 2017 | Company, PVS Structures

Bill Hollis Blog PicBill Hollis worked for Owen Industries from August 1970 to August 2015. We interviewed Bill on his 45 years of service.

Owen Industries: What did you value most about your experience working at Owen Industries during the many years of your tenure?

Bill Hollis: Knowing that men like Ed Owen, Bob Owen, Buss Feller, Fred Koehler and Dave Riggs to name a few… had the faith and trust in me to do the best job possible.

OII: What do you consider to be the most significant change that helped the company grow?

BH: New Machines like the Vortman, Ficep Angle Line, MG Burning machine etc and of course we have men with great skills to run these particular machines.

OII: Do you recall a past project that went through the shop that challenged the team?… one of those “they said it can’t be done” projects?

BH: After 45 years working at PVS, it’s hard to remember, there were so many! I will say that the guys I worked with and all those involved in the many projects over the years had a positive attitude, and there was no such thing as, “It Can’t be done”, we got it done regardless of how small or how big.

OII: What do you think the future has in store for Metal Fabricators and for Owen Industries?

BH: That’s tough one, now a days people around the country want to sit in front of the computer or in their ac or nice warm office, and not so much in weather when it’s either hot or cold in a fab shop. But, if time comes, and there is only one fabricator left…. it will be PVS/Owen Industries!!!

OII: What’s different from the way things were done your first day on the job from the way they were done on your last day working for Owen Industries….Technology? Equipment? Processes? Facility?

BH: Some products are still made the same way on the same machines when I started. And probably will be there for years to come. As an example the radial drill and the press breaks. But, who would have thought that technology, equipment, the never ending improvement to the process and facility would have changed what used to take hours to do, now takes a few minutes.

OII: Do you have any humorous stories to tell regarding your experience with your fellow employees, Management or the Owners of the business? Most memorable!

BH: One of many but I do recall one, it was hot day about 115+ in the shop, my dad stopped by my machine with a cold drink for me (dad worked on the side loader at the time) Here came Ed Owen, Dad said to him, “What are you doing out here sweating in this heat?” Ed fired back, I don’t sweat, I PERSPIRE, and it’s you that’s sweating”

Final Thoughts: Treat everyone the way you would like to be treated, and most of all, listen to what they have to say, many a time you’ll find that the “can’t be done job”, can be done if you listen and involve your team.

 

Thank you Bill for your many years of service and helping to make Owen Industries the best at what we do!

 

You Should Expect Steel Coatings to be Applied During the Fabrication Process 

by | Jan 23, 2017 | PVS Structures

Many steel fabricators have been resistant to apply steel coatings in the fabrication shop. The reasons range from bottleneck issues to the inability to control the environmental conditions.  Some fabricators begrudgingly accept the coating portion of a fabricated project but have not made it a specialty.

As a client you should expect a partner who truly believes in the process of adding steel coatings at the shop. This allows you to work with a partner who can ensure your coating projects are completed successfully within the content of the specification.

What Sets Steel Fabricators apart?

At PVS Structures we decided long ago to make a commitment to this process.  To do this we, had to develop a system that ensured a quality product was delivered on time, on-budget and of course within spec.  A few elements of the system include:

  • Investing in the proper equipment for the projects
  • Training qualified personnel to complete the projects
  • Start with a pre-job conference to address concerns of the project before the project starts
  • Understand the spec requirement as it relates to the level surface prep, DFT of the coating(s), relative humidity, dew point, ambient temperature and surface temperature.
  • Be familiar with methods to verify the compliance of the specification you are working from
  • Actively participate in industry. NACE, SSPC, AISC are all accredited firms who help ensure that fabricators have your clients best interest in mind
  • Ask questions and clarify any items, which need attention

The Industry Continues to Evolve

As with every industry, project requirements, technology, systems, regulations and process continue to evolve.   We see the following areas evolving that we feel are important to support and invest in.

  • The opportunity for multiple coat systems being applied in the shop will continue to become more common
  • Environmental control, monitoring and surface prep control with documentation are becoming attractive to owners and DOTs
  • Owners continue to place more value on the fabrication shops who embrace accreditation and endorsement from industry.
  • Documentation of continuous employee training and quality control records will become part of the approval process.

Large-scale building projects are already complex enough. Trusted partners, like PVS Structures (Yes we are biased!) are meeting the needs of the industry today and are always preparing for what lies ahead for sophisticated coating system(s)

Contact our PVS Structures Team to Discuss your Fabrication Needs.

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