The Mesabi Difference is What Sets Us Apart from Our Competitors
By Kelly Hertling, Supervisor, Human Resources, L&M Radiator, Inc.
Throughout the past year, as many of us have been navigating the pandemic and all of the other changes occurring in our country and world, I’ve noticed more and more articles about workers questioning what they do for work and what their purpose is.
The core message in many of these articles is that people want to work for purpose-driven companies. They want to do work that is meaningful and matters. And from a customer viewpoint, customers want to do business with companies that not only make high-quality products and deliver high-quality service, they want to do business companies that are trying to make the world a better place.
So, you may be wondering, how do a company that manufactures heating and cooling systems bring value to people who want to work for, or do business with, purpose-driven companies?
The answer to that question — At L&M Radiator Inc. we do all of those things every day when we make our Mesabi products. That’s the Mesabi Difference.
Global resources that power our lives
First, let’s look at what Mesabi® heating and cooling systems are used for. Our products are placed on gigantic mining equipment, on offshore oil and gas platforms, and are used in generators that power remote villages, where the nearest power plant may be hundreds of miles away.
Our products keep this equipment working, allowing for the excavation of all metals including precious and rare earth metals that are critical to the operation of high-tech equipment…even our cell phones. Mesabi products allow for the transportation of materials and goods from one continent to another. Mesabi products help to move rockets for NASA and allow for the drilling of oil and gas that is used to power our cars and heat our homes and businesses.
To me, that’s an impact. For a small company located in Hibbing, Minnesota, we have an incredible global footprint that is critical to obtaining and moving the resources that the world needs.
We are problem solvers
Different companies attract employees for different reasons. Some companies want to have a huge cultural impact on the world. Other companies may be focused on incredible customer service or their desire to be the biggest.
At L&M Radiator Inc., we are problem solvers. The world’s leading companies seek out our expertise because our people are passionate – and true experts at solving problems that are preventing them from being as effective, productive, or efficient. We work with companies that operate in many of the harshest environments in the world (yes, there are harsher environments than Minnesota in January). We help them keep their equipment — which may cost millions of dollars — operating smoothly. In fact, the more complex the problem the better — those are the kinds of problems we love to solve, and it’s how we add value for our customers.
We’re a family business
At L&M Radiator, we challenge ourselves to think deeply about what makes us different from our competitors.
I think Laura Ekholm, executive vice president of L&M Radiator Inc., put it best. She calls it the Mesabi Difference: “Our company is family owned and operated and has been part of the Iron Range community for nearly 65 years. We’ve always put our employees and their families first and have grown our business by serving customers from around the world, welcoming industry challenges, and solving problems that others can’t.”
At the end of the day, the Mesabi Difference is really about our people. People who want to make a difference define who we are and what we’re all about.
Offering something special
Right now, we’re seeking to hire at least 35 positions. We think we have something special to offer — work that is meaningful, work that is intriguing and intellectually stimulating, and a working environment where you’re valued and appreciated. When selecting new members for our team, we seek those who are eager to embrace and embody L&M Radiator Inc.’s values of quality, respect, and reliability.
Our company culture is reflected in our family-oriented values and policies. We offer competitive wages and benefits package that includes Healthcare, Dental, Vision, Life and Disability Insurance, 401(k), Profit Sharing, Production Bonuses, paid time off, holidays, and shop uniforms.
Join the L&M team
If you’re nodding your head as you’ve been reading this, then you should consider joining our team. To learn about our latest openings, visit https://mesabi.com/careers/ or contact me at khertling@mesabi.com.