PWC News: Industrial custom steel and equipment fabrication

03/31/08	This winter our company upgraded several pieces of equipment. We replaced our production air compressor with a new higher capacity model, replaced our radial arm drill with a new model and replaced our circular cold saw with a new model.
12/04/07	Don R. Fruchey, Inc. honored recently retired Dennis Garland, Project Foreman at our annual Christmas party. Also honored were two co-workers who reached 30 years of service with our company. They are Tom Tuttle, Traffic Manager and Mike Kauzlick, Field Superintendent. Bob Fruchey was also honored as our first 35 year co-worker.
10/27/07	The Masonic Temple in Fort Wayne honored Don Fruchey as their first Temple Master Preservationist.
01/22/07	This evening the founder of our company, Don R. Fruchey, passed on to a better place at age 82. He started with few financial resources in 1950. But, he left with a long history of successful projects and a family of co-workers, both past and present. He retired in 1980, but his influence is still being felt.
06/12/06	Because project delivery time has become increasingly important, we have added a fourth detailer to our staff.
12/06/05	At the annual Fruchey/PWC Christmas party, we honored two recently retired Fruchey co-workers. They are Terry Hamrick, Project Foreman, and Bob Dunfee, Driver. We also honored four of our Fruchey co-workers who reached 30 years of service with our company. They are Ron Andrews, Project Foreman, Tom Dobbelaere, Project Foreman, Jim Lowden, Safety Director, and Dave Fruchey, V.P.
09/30/05	Our phone equipment was replaced with a state-of-art system. Because of customer requests, a voicemail system was also added.
09/12/05	In another step toward reducing project delivery time, we have just added a third detailer to our office staff.
02/18/05	We implemented new software which should significantly reduce project delivery time. The software includes capabilities for material nesting/ordering, project management and inventory control.
12/07/04	We joined in honoring one of Fruchey’s assistant field superintendents, Mike Campbell, at our annual Fruchey/PWC holiday party. Mike is retiring at the end of the December. Also honored at the party was Leo Herendeen, project estimator for Fruchey. He has 30 years of service with Fruchey.
07/15/04	We finished the complete replacement of our computer workstations, operating systems and Office software.
02/02/04	PWC adds a new high-speed vertical band saw, 20” x 24”. The saw has a solid-state programmable logic controller for all mechanical, electrical and hydraulic functions. With its programmable feed, it can cut up to 99 different lengths from one bar of steel.
12/02/03	At the Fruchey/PWC annual holiday party, five of Fruchey’s foremen were honored as retirees this year, Steve Carroll, Chuck Ellis, Leo King, Bob Lukasheay and Keith Pomeroy. Also retiring and honored was Larry Kumfer, heavy equipment mechanic. At the party we were pleased to join in honoring Kevin Bushee, operating engineer, who has been a part of Fruchey’s for 30 years. Recognition was also given to Shawn Malone, operating engineer. Shawn was at home and heard an explosion at an industrial facility in Huntington, Indiana. He went to the facility and assisted in evacuating people and providing first aid.
10/28/03	PWC added a digital blue print copier to our detailing department. This will greatly increase our speed in printing and copying blue prints plus adding the ability to scan in drawings.
08/25/03	We are pleased to announce Adam Fruchey’s safe return from service in Iraq and Kuwait.
05/14/03	For our fourth year, Don R. Fruchey, Inc. and PWC will be the corporate sponsor for the SCAN Children’s Garden on the grounds of Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne. SCAN (Stop Child Abuse & Neglect) started the Garden as a way for people to honor loved ones with a living tribute.
03/07/03	The Army Reserves recently called up co-worker, Adam Fruchey. He left today for the Iraq area. We wish for him and all the military a safe return from their mission. They have our sincere thanks for their service.
12/03/02	Don R. Fruchey, Inc. honored Bobby Lukasheay and Bob Fruchey for their 30 years of service with our company. We are proud that almost every year, on average, we have added to our 30 year list. The presentation took place at our annual holiday dinner.
06/22/02	PWC and Fruchey held our annual picnic at the Wizard’s baseball stadium. The entertainment was a baseball game with evening fireworks.
05/28/02	PWC Fabrication Division purchased a new bending roll to add the ability to roll pipe, tube, rod, angle and channels down to 8” diameter. A new mill was also purchased to speed production time by being able to cut keyways in shafting on site.
03/02/02	Our co-workers attended the American Red Cross “A Tribute to Heroes” dinner. Fruchey sponsored a table at the event which honored heroes in the Ft. Wayne area. This was the first year for the event and was a great success. Everyone was impressed of the courage of some very special local people.
02/01/02	PWC adds a new electrostatic painter that has the additional capability of applying waterborne coatings for finish painting.
01/15/02	Please be aware that the area code for our company has changed from 219 to 260. Our old area code will still work for 6 months.
11/16/01	Les Sherman past away today. Les was manager of PWC for many years when PWC was in its original building on Meyer Road. We wish his family well.
09/28/01	PWC agrees to build two new barges to help replace the 50 that were called into service for debris removal from the 9/11 attack in New York.
08/14/01	The gazebo that Don R. Fruchey, Inc. contributed to the SCAN (Stop Child Abuse & Neglect) Children’s Garden was identified with a plaque stand built by PWC Fabrication. The plaque reads “In honor of Don & Catherine Fruchey and the co-workers past & present of Don R. Fruchey, Inc.” Each addition to the Garden is making it more and more beautiful.
06/29/01	As part of the conversion of PWC Fabrication Division to “Fruchey colors”, the exterior of the fabrication building is being painted “Fruchey green”. In addition, to make the interior of the building a more productive work environment, all walls, building columns and the ceiling are being painted white.
03/29/01	General Manager, Jon Greim, and Shop Superintendent, Tim Moore, attend a seminar held at Don R. Fruchey, Inc. about the impact of the new OSHA Subpart R standards on steel fabricators and erectors effective on September 16, 2001 in Indiana. To make sure our customers will be properly served on that date, we are immediately changing detailing practices to comply with these regulations.
03/20/01	PWC Fabrication donates materials and labor to fabricate a 500 lb. steel “Frank Lloyd Wright Birdhouse” that will be auctioned at an annual event sponsored by the Fort Wayne Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. The proceeds will be given to Daybreak Children’s Shelter.
01/08/01	This past fall, our company responded to a request from a national customer and began accepting Visa/MasterCard payments. All PWC customers may now take advantage of this payment service.
11/30/00	PWC Fabrication replaces its 1/2" x 10' plate roll with a new hydraulic model. This will boost our rolling quality.
09/25/00	PWC Fabrication adds a new 10ga x 6' roll to expand the range of our rolling capabilities.
08/25/00	Retired PWC General Manager Gene Matter was recently seen vacationing at Mount Rushmore by one of our customers. What are the odds of a chance meeting like that?
08/07/00	PWC Fabrication installs a new bender, beveler and notcher for fabricating tube, pipe and ornamental handrails. Equipment capacity is for ¾" thru 2" diameter schedule 40 & 80 pipe. The bender also has the capacity to bend round, square and rectangular solids; square and rectangular tube; mild steel tee's and C channel.
08/01/00	PWC Fabrication introduces new company colors with an updated logo, which more closely reflects the partnership of Don R. Fruchey, Inc. Construction Division and PWC Fabrication.
07/19/00	SCAN (Stop Child Abuse & Neglect) announces that Don R. Fruchey, Inc. will contribute the gazebo to SCAN's Children Garden which is located on the grounds of Indiana University Purdue University Fort Wayne. We at PWC are pleased to help with a part of this contribution.
07/04/00	Don R. Fruchey, Inc. and PWC Fabrication celebrate the 4th with a co-worker picnic at the Ft. Wayne Wizards game and fireworks.
06/03/00	Don R. Fruchey, Inc. has a 50-year anniversary dinner for co-workers. PWC Fabrication co-workers joined in the celebration.
04/17/00	PWC Fabrication replaces its burning table with computerized unit. Drawings can be drawn in AutoCad and transferred to the table by fiber cable.
02/17/00	PWC Fabrication is linked to Don R. Fruchey, Inc. computer servers to allow PWC to share in Microsoft Exchange's security and e-mail features.