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A first for Omaha leads to dozens of productive projects
Spring 2015
Ever since he was a teenager, Randy Kersten, 41, has loved to operate machines. So it was no surprise when he decided to join his family-run construction business 25 years ago. In 1965, his father and grandfather started Kersten Construction, based out of Omaha, Nebraska, by making house calls to fix sewer and water lines. Gradually they expanded their operation to include municipal utility work for housing developments and apartment complexes.
“My dad and grandfather really started the business from the ground up,” Kersten says. “They started with wheel trenchers and a backhoe, and then went to rubber-tire backhoe loaders. Now we own seven excavators and five wheel loaders.”
Today, Kersten and his employees operate 12 machines, including Doosan DX235LCR and DX420LC-3 crawler excavators and a DL250 wheel loader, purchased from the local Doosan equipment dealer, Bobcat of Omaha. Kersten Construction specializes in underground utility construction projects for residential, industrial and commercial customers in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa. Kersten Construction employees install water lines, sanitary and storm sewer pipe, and septic tanks, as well as complete water and sewer line repairs.
First Doosan customer in Nebraska
Kersten says he tries to keep things as simple as possible, not only with how he runs his business, but also in how he chooses his machines. A machine that was easy to operate and offered low fuel consumption was what Kersten wanted. He tested and eventually purchased a Doosan DL250 wheel loader, making Kersten Construction the first company to buy a Doosan machine from Bobcat of Omaha.
“The hydraulic performance, horsepower and the exceptional main components on the machine were all factors that played into our decision,” Kersten says. “We felt Doosan machines were built very well and have been pleased with the Doosan line.”
The important machine features for Kersten included:
- Ease of operation
- Cab comfort, especially air conditioning, heat and radio
- Excellent visibility and help from the rearview camera
- Simple maintenance and service support from the local dealer
“We complete a variety of work, so the more versatile we are with our equipment the easier the job will be to complete,” he says. “Our crew is also trained in all aspects of sanitary, storm sewer and water main projects, so that helps them understand what needs to get done at each jobsite.”
Tough task, no problem
The Doosan equipment was crucial to the company’s operators when they excavated the trenches, installed 6,500 feet of storm sewer pipe and backfilled dirt in a new 80-acre housing development in September 2014. Kersten Construction employees relied heavily on the DX420LC-3 excavator for the majority of the storm sewer project due to the excavator’s Lifting work mode. In the Lifting mode, low engine rpm, automatic power boost and increased pump torque deliver extra muscle when lifting and properly setting pipe.
“Once we excavated the trench, we used a rock bedding and then laid the pipe by using a pin on the back end of the coupler,” Kersten says. “For the amount of pipe that was laid down, it was a fast project.
My operators were using the machine five days a week for 10 hours a day, and it continued to have great cycle times, allowing us to complete the project faster.”
With the help of Doosan machines, Kersten Construction was able to complete the project in only two weeks, making it one of their quicker projects.
“Our machines had great cycle times, even when running the excavator in full Power mode,” he says. “I was getting 6.5 to 6.9 gallons an hour from the machine. It really boosted our overall productivity.”
Proven track record
In addition to the sewer line project, Kersten Construction used its Doosan machines for the following projects:
- Installed a half mile of 24-inch water main and helped complete on-site utility tasks for the Nebraska Crossings Outlets mall — a 350,000-square-foot, open-air shopping center
- Unloaded pipe with a DL250 wheel loader equipped with a hydraulic quick coupler and pallet fork attachment; the company took on a significant project — laying 4 miles of large-diameter water main in a residential development and completed it on time
- Finished challenging projects by working flush against buildings and concrete footings, prompting Kersten to buy the DX235LCR reduced tail swing excavator
Although each job is unique, Kersten says what hasn’t changed is their use of Doosan machinery.
“Each job has its challenges, whether it’s the location of the project or the ground conditions,” he says. “You just have to be able to adapt and keep your productivity up. Our Doosan machines have definitely helped us in the past, and I feel they are going to help us in the future, too.”
