As we look forward to the New Year, we also take time to reflect on a successful 2013. In no particular order, the following are the top five moments of 2013 for the Kafka companies:
1) Kafka’s crushing facility is the heart beat of all things Kafka Granite, and it’s now more efficient than ever before. In 2013, Kafka Granite added an additional 2000 horsepower to their crushing facility, which allowed them to add an secondary crushing line. The additional crushing operation will increase production speeds, as the crew is now able to work on more than one job at a time. The added horsepower also allowed the crushing facility to finalize their dust collection system, further eliminating the stone dust emissions in to the air.
2) In the early Spring of 2013, the Kafka’s expanded their umbrella of businesses to include Kafka Biomass, a new entity that was formed after Glenn Kafka had been awarded the contract to provide a remote biomass storage facility for the new Domtar/We Energies 50 megawatt biomass-fueled cogeneration facility in Rothschild, WI. Kafka Biomass is contracted to scale, inventory, store, and deliver between 40,000 and 80,000 tons of clean wood waste each year to support this state-of-the-art alternative energy facility.
3) Also in the Spring of 2013, Kafka Land Clearing came out swinging and this new business venture got a big start. With the addition of a 1000 horsepower horizontal grinder, as well as a variety of trucks, trailers, tractors, and other equipment, Kafka Land Clearing has the capacity to clear large parcels of commercial and agricultural land throughout Central Wisconsin. The company works in conjunction with logging companies in order to remove the stumps and clean up the brush after the timber has been harvested. The waste wood is then ground into fiber for use in Domtar/We Energies Biomass plant.
4) The Kafka businesses foresee potential future expansion, with the additional of a total unique product through a partnership with SoilNet in 2013. Glenn Kafka, owner of Kafka Granite, has been working diligently on bringing an organic water clarifying polymer invented by SoilNet to the marketplace. This highly concentrated polymer can be used to separate pollution from water, with no harmful effects on the natural environment. The product has proved successful in the agricultural industry, but now Kafka is testing the product for use in frac sand mines and manufacturing facilities throughout the Midwest in order to eliminate water pollution in the local ecosystem and minimize waste water.
5) In order to support new business ventures as well as the consistent growth of Kafka Granite, in 2013 the company had made it’s largest expansion in manpower in it’s 34 year history. In the past year Kafka Granite has promoted three previous part-time employees to full-time status, as well as added ten new full-time positions and 4 new part-time or seasonal positions. The Kafka’s take pride in providing jobs in the local community, and are happy to say they now employ a grand total of 36 full time employees and 12 part-time/seasonal employees.
