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Cutler-Hammer was moved from the Bronx,
N.Y., to Lincoln in 1958, bringing hundreds of jobs to the Logan
County area. Many New Yorkers followed the company to Illinois. One
such gentleman is Eliot Ebelherr, who retired from Cutler-Hammer in
1979. Mr. Ebelherr, who still sports his New Yorker accent, was the
assistant manager of quality control when he relocated from the Big
Apple to Beason. Ebelherr, along with his brother Ken Ebelherr, Jim
Jarrio and Amel Wyrack, make up the four remaining living
originators who relocated to Illinois with the original company 45
years ago.
Eliot Ebelherr, a familiar face among
the Cutler-Hammer employees, toured the plant once more with Mayor
Beth Davis and plant manager Wes Brittan. "Things have changed a lot
-- but always for the better," Ebelherr commented.
Cutler-Hammer, which was purchased by
the Eaton Corporation some 25 years or so ago, remains
Cutler-Hammer. Its diverse product line includes load centers,
temporary power outlet panels, residential meter stack modules,
surface mount rain-tight meter breakers, and air-conditioning
disconnectors. According to Brittan, Cutler-Hammer's highest volume
of production includes the load center and AC disconnectors. A
unique feature offered by the company is a Flex Center, where any
product they create can be customized and modified to the needs of
the consumer.
Another point of pride at this company
is the waste treatment facility. Wastewater used in production is
treated aggressively to remove and eliminate any hazardous materials
before releasing the water back into the environment. The company is
currently in the running to receive the Governor's Award for its
elimination of cyanide as a processing waste product.
Cutler-Hammer currently meets the high
standards of two certifications: ISO 9,001 Quality Certification
since 1993, as well as ISO 14,001 Environmental Certification since
2000. The environmental certification is given for meeting stringent
qualifications in air and water quality, as well as a reduction of
emissions.
Eaton Cutler-Hammer is a vertically
integrated factory where most of the production is done
top-to-bottom on-site. According to longtime employee Donna Schoof,
all but the actual breakers are constructed at the Lincoln factory.
Schoof reports that the breaker
production was moved to Puerto Rico 10 years ago. Prior to that,
Schoof had begun her employment making breakers at Cutler-Hammer.
When this production was moved, she, along with other employees, had
the opportunity to be trained and moved to other positions in the
factory. Currently, Schoof runs the presses, creating and welding
breaker boxes together from steel sheets as a third-shift press
operator.
The company runs three round-the-clock
shifts, six days a week. Mandatory overtime is common in the busy
summer months, due to the high demand for AC disconnectors and home
construction.
Why has Schoof stayed with Eaton
Cutler-Hammer for 14 years? Schoof reported that she enjoys the work
and that the pay in good. She is especially pleased with the benefit
package that is offered. "Cutler-Hammer takes care of its own,"
Schoof states. "The company puts safety first." Schoof went on to
describe the extensive training and safety procedures the company
must follow.
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As Brittan also noted, "There are too
many factors to take risks. With 650 employees to manage, we must
follow OSHA regulations." He reports that no serious incidents have
been reported in at least four years.
Even with the struggling economy of the
past two years, Brittan reports that Cutler-Hammer continues to
grow. "We have added some 50 to 60 people to our work force,"
Brittan stated. "I believe that some of this is tied to (increased)
home sales."
Speaking of home sales, Eaton
Cutler-Hammer has also made other contributions to the Logan County
area. The company is one of seven local corporate donors to the
Logan County chapter of Habitat for Humanity, a housing ministry
financed through private donations and utilizing volunteer labor.
Habitat's purpose is to build homes with families and sell houses at
no profit and no interest to families who could not otherwise afford
a house. Cutler-Hammer currently donates the load center, breakers
and meter base for such homes constructed or rehabilitated for this
purpose.
Other corporate donors include Larson,
which donates storm doors, and the Dow Corporation, which donates
Dow Board for exterior walls. Yale donates keyed knobs, deadbolts
and passage locks, while Whirlpool donates the stove and
refrigerator for the homes. Finally, Wal-Mart gives grant money, and
Mitchell-Newhouse Lumber Co. donates needed building materials.
At the 45th anniversary ceremony, plant
manager Wes Brittan presented George Dahmm, president of the Logan
County chapter of Habitat for Humanity, a donation on behalf of the
company. As Brittan noted, Cutler-Hammer nationally supports Habitat
for Humanity financially, as well as providing free labor for the
construction and renovation of homes.
In the 10 years that Habitat has worked
in Logan County, seven homes have been completed. Another home is in
the process of being constructed, and a ninth home was just
purchased by the Logan County Board through ReMax Realty.
Mayor Beth Davis commended Eaton
Cutler-Hammer for "giving people homes and giving them hope." Also
recognized was Bill Sahs, whose vision brought the Habitat for
Humanity project to Logan County. Habitat director George Dahmm
encouraged others in the community to give of their time and talents
for this worthwhile project.
Eaton Cutler-Hammer also supports other
community causes, such as Relay for Life, the MS Walk and local
school systems. The company also sponsored a hot-air balloon this
year for the balloon festival. The SS Rollo Fitzpug, piloted by
Larry Owens, won the Saturday evening balloon race at the festival.
The company festivities continued from
noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, providing free tours of the
380,000-square-foot facility, as well as hot dogs, popcorn, snow
cones, cookies, cotton candy, balloons, water and Pepsi products.
Entertainment included instrumental music from a local jazz band and
dancing cloggers from Audra's school of dance. Current and retired
employees, family and friends communed for the celebration.
A factory
marquee quoted Aristotle and said it best: "We are what we
repeatedly do … excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit."
[Patricia
Rankin] |
