When Steele Earthworks launched in July 2022, the Oregon contractor had the contracts, team, and hustle ready to go. What they didn’t have yet was the right equipment partner and strategy to stay competitive in the Pacific Northwest’s rocky terrain. When an early partnership with another dealer fell short due to poor service, Papé Machinery Construction & Forestry stepped in and raised the bar with their trusted standard of Uptime.
Listening First, Then Tailoring the Plan
Jesse Nelson, territory manager for Papé Machinery, spotted a jobsite with a crew he didn’t know, and he walked in to meet them. That brief conversation changed Steele Earthworks’ trajectory. Together, we mapped out a plan for controlling material flow on site by bringing crushing and screening in-house with Kleemann machines.
Rather than push a one-size-fits-all package, our team recommended a phased approach that aligned with Steele’s cash flow and project pipeline. We started with a screen to process material already on hand. Once throughput needs grew, we added a Kleemann jaw to handle the oversized rock and feed consistent product to the screen. The result was a controlled, predictable material process from the first bucket to the final lift.
Why Kleemann for Crushing and Screening?
Papé only stands behind allied products that meet our standards for uptime and productivity. Kleemann’s German engineering checked every box for Steele Earthworks:
- Mobility: Track-mounted crushers and screens are easy to load, transport, and set up.
- Throughput and Efficiency: Matched jaws and screens keep material flowing, reducing bottlenecks and keeping crews productive.
- Reliability: Premium components and smart design maximize availability, which allows up as more tons per hour and fewer schedule slips.
With Kleemann, Steele Earthworks could crush and screen on site, dramatically cutting truck miles, import/export costs, and wait time. Fewer trucks on the road also meant a safer, simpler jobsite and a smaller environmental footprint.
Financing the Fuels Growth
Like most fast-moving contractors, Steele Earthworks needed to grow without tying up capital. Papé Machinery Construction & Forestry Rent-to-Own program made it possible. Instead of spending dollars on a traditional rental program every payment moved them toward ownership of the machines that power their business. That alignment of cashflow and asset building let Steele expand capabilities quickly, win more contracts, and maintain momentum.
Service that Shows Up
Equipment is only as good as the service and support behind it. From the outset, Papé Machinery Construction & Forestry backed Steele Earthworks with proactive field visits, parts availability, and technician expertise across crushing, screening, and earthmoving. That end-to-end support matters: Steele now relies on a single call to Papé to start and finish jobs. When timelines tighten or scopes change, they’re not juggling multiple vendors, they’re working with one responsive partner.
Results You Can Feel on the Job
Bringing crushing and screening in-house with Kleemann machinery delivered immediate, measurable benefits:
- Lower haul costs and fewer delays.
- Higher uptime from premium machines.
- Greater competitiveness thanks to faster starts, cleaner logistics, and consistent product.
- Scalable growth enabled by Rent-to-Own financing and a phased equipment plan.
Most importantly, Steele Earthworks found a partner they trust. That trust is why they continue to build their fleet, and their business, with us.
Learn more about this partnership by viewing our White Paper here.
Whether you’re launching a new venture or leveling up your material control, Papé Machinery Construction & Forestry can help you design the right crushing and screening solutions. We make it simple to get productive and stay that way.
Ready to crush your next project? Contact your local Papé Machinery Construction & Forestry branch to consider Kleemann machines, schedule a site visit, or start a Rent-to-Own plan tailored to your workload.
