It all started as an idea to give back in a transformative way. K.A. Group, a global leader in design, manufacture, and distribution of earthmoving equipment has a vision for shaping our world for a better tomorrow. K.A. Group’s facility in Rosenort, Manitoba, Canada manufactures the K-Tec brand of earthmoving scrapers for the heavy construction and mining industries. In 2022, K.A. Group identified Habitat for Humanity as the organization’s charity of choice.

“Habitat for Humanity is an organization that can make a real, tangible impact in the communities that we work in and that we live in,” said Shane Kroeker, Director of Strategic Initiatives at K.A. Group.

“We knew we wanted to do something unique and special with them. Something that we could put our name behind and be proud of in our community. Our business is manufacturing purpose-built earthmoving equipment, but the purpose for building this special scraper is to turn it into a home!” says Kroeker.

The company manufactured a special, new K-Tec 1228; a 28 cubic yard scraper for this charitable purpose. The project had complete buy-in with K.A. Group’s vendor partners as well. Most of the scraper components were generously donated by suppliers to support the initiative including high-tensile and mild steel, cutting edges, hydraulics, electronics, tires, rims, bushings, slider blocks, paint, and fasteners.

K.A. Group wanted everyone involved to feel connected to this machine. The rear tail of the scraper was personally autographed by K-Tec employees and Habitat for Humanity staff. To truly set this scraper apart from the rest of the equipment fleet, a custom one-of-a-kind special decal kit promoting Habitat For Humanity was applied onto the scraper.

This unique pull-pan, ejector scraper went up for auction in May of 2022 with the support of Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers in Fort Worth, Texas. A bidder from Oklahoma purchased the machine for $205,000USD, where 100% of the auction proceeds went to Habitat for Humanity. The unique Habitat For Humanity K-Tec 1228 scraper is efficiently moving dirt in an Oklahoma rental fleet today.

With the building funds in-hand, Habitat for Humanity set to acquire a parcel of residential land. They found a new lot in a residential development in Rosenort, Manitoba; the same town where K.A. Group’s Manitoba facility is located. Ironically enough, back in 2015, a K-Tec 1228 scraper was used to complete the earthworks portion on this exact residential development lot that Habitat acquired.

Habitat For Humanity sent out a call for homeowner applications to seek out a participating family. The candidate requirements were to have one person in the family working full time for at least two consecutive years, have children in the household, and have good credit. Additionally, 500 hours of sweat equity or community volunteerism was required. The benefits of the program are massive, as Habitat offers the mortgage term that makes this home affordable, as ownership often costs less than traditional renting.

Mustaf and Magda, along with their six children ranging in age from 2 to 19, successfully applied to Habitat for Humanity’s selection committee. The family previously rented a 600-square-foot, 2-bedroom apartment in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The two youngest children had to sleep in the parents’ bedroom, the boys slept in the living room on fold out beds, and the two oldest girls were in bunkbeds in the second bedroom. Mustaf and Magda have been wanting to raise their kids outside of an urban center for some time and were overjoyed with emotion when they heard of the life-changing news. Michelle Pereira, COO for Habitat Manitoba, says that

“when the selected family first received the call from Habitat that they had been approved for partnership in the homeownership program, Magda, the mother was speechless, she simply couldn’t believe it. Each time she has a conversation about the opportunity it sinks in a little bit more. They are very excited to become a part of the Rosenort community. The children are looking forward to having their own rooms and having sleepovers with their friends. We are so grateful to K.A. Group for their partnership to make this dream come true. The way that everyone has joined in to participate on this project is inspiring and humbling.”

Habitat for Humanity’s team designed a 1100 sq. ft., five-bedroom bungalow with a double attached garage for the 8-person family to comfortably set down roots in southern Manitoba. The next step was to physically build this dream home for the family.

Habitat for Humanity hosted a blitz build where dozens of volunteers came to work on site daily for a week. K.A. Group staff participated in 3 days of productive and enjoyable labor onsite, along with Mustaf and Magda’s family. Other local businesses, churches, and members of the community also volunteered to build the home and feed the crews throughout the week.

In November of 2022 the Habitat home was completed, and an emotional key ceremony was held. Mustaf and Magda’s family was blessed to receive the key to officially move into their new home. The Habitat for Humanity team, K.A. Group, Oklahoma scraper owners, dignitaries, and community volunteers were present to surround the family at the momentous occasion.

Every one deserves a safe and decent place to call home, and K.A. Group is grateful to help shape the world for a better tomorrow for this deserving family.

K.A. Group would also like to recognize the following sponsors for their donations of materials for the manufacturing of this special one-of-a-kind K-Tec scraper: Hardox, Michelin, OTR Wheel, Black Cat Wear Parts, JEM Technical, Motion Canada, Brunswick Steel, Polymer Shapes, Castle Metals, Fastenal, Polygon Composites, Inproheat, Tri Koating, BLC Mfg, Points West, Innovair, & McNelius Steel.

For additional project information, please visit: https://www.habitat.mb.ca/builds/rosenort-manitoba/ and http://www.ktec.com and https://www.KAgroup.com.

Article Written by Shane Kroeker, Director of Strategic Initiatives, K.A. Group

K-Tec Media Contact
Shane Kroeker
Director of Strategic Initiatives
K-Tec Earthmovers Inc.
T: 1-204-746-6435
ShaneK@ktec.com