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Saturday, November 10, 2001

By Len Boselovic, Post-Gazette Staff Writer

Five creditors have begun involuntary bankruptcy proceedings against Wilhelm-Kruse, the Rankin company that fabricated the steel for PNC Park, claiming they are owed more than $175,000.

The claims range from $5,956 owed to Wooster Products of Wooster, Ohio, to $112,295 owed to Valley Joist of Fort Payne, Ala. The creditors filed Chapter 7 proceedings against Wilhelm-Kruse, meaning they want the company to go out of business after its assets are sold.

Wilhelm-Kruse has until Nov. 20 to respond to the complaint, said Nicholas Krawec, the attorney for the creditors.

President Edward Wilhelm did not return phone calls seeking comment.

Wilhelm-Kruse was awarded a $19.4 million contract to provide the steel for PNC Park. The company also submitted an offer to do the same at Heinz Field, but dropped out of the bidding.

Wilhelm-Kruse also faces a raft of lawsuits filed by other creditors in Allegheny County Common Pleas Court. Court records indicate more than a dozen other creditors are seeking money they say Wilhelm-Kruse owes them. These include a $5,170 state sales tax lien and a $50,174 claim filed by Swiss Fabricating.

"It certainly is a significant loss for a company as small as we are," said Jim Harper, president of the Cranberry company.

Most of the money is due for work performed for Wilhelm-Kruse's contract at Ohio State University's new football stadium, Harper said.