Compact Equipment Meets Concrete Tear-Out Challenges

Contractor Irv Seiler says the company's dependable Bobcat equipment is used on every site, from start to finish.

A well-established family in the concrete business has been relying on the most productive family of compact equipment for more than a quarter of a century. The result: a successful partnership that has produced quality residential and commercial concrete work throughout northeastern Wisconsin.

Irv Seiler owns Seiler Bros. Construction, Inc. in Manitowoc, Wis. The company includes his wife, Bernette; brothers Pete, John and Tony; daughter Tina; son-in-law Craig; and nephews Robbie, Doug, T.J. and Matt.

“We’ve operated Bobcat® skid-steer loaders for most of the time we’ve been in business,” Irv Seiler says. “About six years ago we tried a Bobcat compact excavator for trenching. It worked so well that we bought two more.”

Today, the company owns two S185 and two S205 skid-steer loaders and 331 and 341 excavators, all purchased from Miller Implement, St. Nazianz, Wis.

“We still use our excavators for trenching, but have found them to be great machines for breaking concrete,” Seiler says. “The excavators are faster than our loaders on some concrete demolition projects. With the hydraulic clamp we can pick up broken concrete, swing it around and dump it right into the truck. That’s very efficient. Plus, using the rubber track excavators saves a lot of wear on the tires of our loaders.”

The Seilers use hydraulic breakers (on the excavators and loaders) and drop hammers (on the loaders) to break concrete. “Bobcat breakers do a really nice job,” Seiler says. “We have had no trouble breaking up floors a foot thick.

"We’re using the drop hammer attachment more and more on tougher concrete because it produces less vibration and noise than standard hydraulic breakers,” he adds.

The 20-plus employees of Seiler Bros. specialize in removing and replacing old concrete, including driveways, sidewalks, building floors and in ground conveyor systems. The company works for homeowners, commercial properties, municipalities and utility firms.

“The most important factor these days is getting the job done quickly,” he says. “People know we have the right equipment to handle jobs faster and more efficiently. That’s what they want, and with Bobcat equipment, we can deliver.”

Seiler Bros. takes its Bobcat equipment to every job. That’s because the loaders, excavators and attachments prepare the site quickly and efficiently for the new concrete pour. “We use our Bobcat machines to break up and remove the old material, dig out the area, do any necessary trenching and then we clean up with the sweeper attachment,” Seiler says.

“Our work is demanding and hard on the machines,” Seiler says. “The Bobcat equipment is more than up to the task. It’s just what we need.”

To learn more about Bobcat applications in the concrete market, visit www.bobcat.com/concrete.