07/15/2021
Pump Pro Concrete Pumping is heart-broken over the four Stemmer employees that lost their lives in the tragic crane accident that occurred in Kelowna on Monday July 12th. All of us at Pump Pro have worked alongside these men for years. We can remember when Patrick was first training on the cranes and Eric was just a young buck, learning the ropes. Over the years we have watched them both grow into skilled tradesmen, and are proud to have known them. We also worked closely with Cailen and Jared on the Brooklyn tower project. Both were amazing riggers and always so helpful to us. Stemmer Construction has played a big role in the success of Pump Pro, as they were an integral proponent in us becoming the first and only pump company to have a placing boom in the Okanagan. Without Stemmer Constructions forward thinking and commitment to utilizing the latest construction technologies as well as awarding the Brooklyn Tower to Pump Pro, we probably would not have purchased the placing boom. When we both erected the placing boom for the first time, we had many complicated and difficult lifts with their crane. Understandably, we were very nervous about these lifts, but with the expertise of the riggers, smooth operation of the crane, and strict safety protocols our fears were no longer an issue. That is why we are in such disbelief that an accident like this occurred. Safety has always been such a huge part of Stemmer Construction, and it boggles our minds as to how something like this could happen. When Wolfram Stemmer bought the crane for the Brooklyn tower, we asked him why he bought such an expensive crane when there were cheaper and more local cranes available. His comment was that his sons and rest of their crew were working with it and he wasn’t going to take any chances with safety; that only the best would do. Stemmer Construction is not the kind of company that cuts corners in anything they do. We have always been proud to call Stemmer Construction one of our BEST customers. The sorrow we feel for the families of the victims can not be put into words. We will never forget this tragic accident and we will forever miss our friends Eric, Patrick, Jared and Cailen.
