Using forks to lift cars safely and quickly? Maybe you should thank industry pioneer, Elmer Secker.

Secker is the founder and co-owner of S.A.S. of Luxemburg, Ltd., a Wisconsin-based company that specializes in designing and manufacturing fork assemblies for auto recyclers.

Until Secker came onto the scene, forks weren’t commonly used at auto recycling facilities. Trained as an engineer, Secker was one of the first people to use these engineering principles to figure out the best way to move cars in the industry. He designed his first set of forks in 1972; in the early 1980s, a division of All State Insurance hired him to study how recycling businesses moved their cars.

Among his conclusions: The safest and best way to handle a vehicle is with a properly sized wheel loader with 15-and-a-half-foot forks.

"Prior to that, people were using tow trucks to move cars around, and it wasn’t particularly safe," said David Romppanen, vice president of sales. "Industry experts took a look at [Secker’s findings], and they agreed with what he had to say."

Industry Standard

S.A.S. has become the industry standard when it comes to designing forks and other lifting and moving products used in auto recycling. Secker is still the chief engineer; his son, Paul, is president and co-owner of the company.

"It’s amazing," said Romppanen. "Wherever you go - all the conventions - everyone knows Elmer. He’s been in the business a long time. He’s really the backbone of the company."

S.A.S. has evolved a great deal since the early 1970s: It now has in-house engineering, design capabilities and a complete manufacturing facility. Over the years, the company has designed and built forks that are compatible with virtually every make and model of wheel loader.

S.A.S.’ Motto

The company’s motto, Romppanen said, is "Quality, service and innovation." S.A.S. is a stickler for quality control, choosing only high-quality vendors and using only the best manufacturing procedures. The company’s 15-foot forks have been available for 30 years; not one has been returned for failure of materials or workmanship.

"We spend a lot of effort to stay on the edge of technology," Romppanen explained. "We believe that’s time and money well spent because it allows us to provide a quality product."

Romppanen said the company’s future plans include focusing more on the manufacturing side.

"That will help us continue to improve our services to customers and bring a broader range of products to the industry," he explained. "That’s where we really see the future." Many ideas for designs and new products come from customers, he added. Company representatives frequently visit customers and travel to conventions.

"S.A.S. tries hard to listen to our customers’ needs," Romppanen said. "Then we design and manufacture implements that meet customer needs rather than selling them something that they have to adapt or, even worse, something that fails to meet their expectations."

Today’s Recyclers

Because S.A.S. works so closely with customers, Romppanen has met many members of the auto recycling industry.

"They’re great business people," he said. "They know what they want; they have high expectations; and they’re a great group of people to deal with."

The admiration seems to be mutual. Romppanen said the best kind of acknowledgment is the "attaboy letters" the company often gets from customers.

"The strongest recognition you can get is when customers tell their friends and friendly competitors about your products," he commented. "We get a lot of referrals that way."

Owners: Elmer and Paul Secker

Location: Luxemburg, Wis.

Phone: 877-727-3675 or 920-845-2307

URL: www.sasforks.com

Size:
Square feet: About 25,000 (combined)
Number of Employees: Approximately 30

Credentials: ARA

Quote: "[Auto recyclers are] great business people. They know what they want; they have high expectations; and they’re a great group of people to deal with."