The following articles are edited versions of releases about the use and acquisition of various types of industrial equipment.
Metal Supplier Boosts Warehouse Efficiency with AGVs, New Cantilever Racking
By Del Williams
UNIVERSITY PARK, Ill.—When metal products and services supplier Central Steel & Wire (CS&W) decided to move from the Chicago facility that had been its home for 80 years, it envisioned creating a state-of-the-art product depot and service center that used the industry’s most efficient material handling technology.
It would be a major transformation for CS&W, a supplier that serves a wide range of companies, from job shops to large OEMs. The company was leaving behind a labor-intensive method of material handling in favor of using automated guided vehicles (AGVs) to move its wide range of metal products.
“For the first time in the metal service center business, we brought in AGVs to replace standard material handling equipment,” said Nicole Giesie, vice president of operations at Central Steel & Wire, a member of the Ryerson Family of Companies. “It allowed us to use driverless vehicles to store and pull materials to fulfill customer orders.”
A Pallet Runner from Steel King Industries, a manufacturer of storage rack and material handling products. (Photo courtesy Steel King Industries)
New technology, new facility
The greatest benefits from the use of AGVs, however, could only be realized by developing a new facility that incorporated racking with consistent pocket locations, evenly distributed and available throughout the location.
The presence of damaged racking arms in the existing facility would also have reduced the effectiveness of the AGVs, Giesie noted.
While AGVs require a significant investment, there is a substantial payoff in increased material handling efficiency and accuracy, reduced labor, and decreased damage to racking, equipment and structures.
“With AGVs, we were able to utilize our workforce in other value-added tasks rather than just moving metal throughout the facility,” Giesie said.
Initial design discussions for the new facility began in August 2021. They included requirements relating to the use of AGVs in a 900,000-square-foot facility that would be developed in southern Chicagoland’s Village of University Park.
18,000 storage locations needed
The University Park facility would need 18,000 storage locations to accommodate 6,000 product SKUs that have a combined weight of 50 million pounds of carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum, and specialty metals. Space was also needed for value-added work, such as precision cutting and tube laser operations.
For storage of all that metal, CS&W looked at racking manufacturers throughout the U.S., and then selected Steel King Industries, a prominent manufacturer of storage rack and material handling products. The two companies had a long-standing relationship, in that CS&W supplies steel for Steel King’s products.
“Based on our existing strong relationship with Steel King, its reputation for reliability and for manufacturing extremely durable racking, and its engineering expertise, we found them to have the best solution for our needs,” Giesie said.
Steel King dealer fulfilled project manager role
Another factor that would work to CS&W’s advantage was the involvement of Steel King dealer Container Systems, Inc., of suburban Chicago.
“This was an extremely large project for Central Steel & Wire,” Giesie said. “We needed a reliable partner to ensure success, and Container Systems proved to be that partner. In a project of this size, there is a lot that can go wrong, dealing with a lot of different contractors, equipment vendors, et cetera. Having Container Systems involved removed that burden from us and kept the project moving forward to the point that installation was completed ahead of schedule.”
The new facility uses Steel King’s I-beam cantilever racking for 1,300 uprights, as well as guard rail products. I-beam cantilever steel storage racks allow access from both sides. This design is said to save horizontal space normally lost to rack structure, reduce fork truck damage, and allow for faster load and unload times.
The Steel King I-beam cantilever racking is built for longevity, with structural steel construction and a 50,000-psi minimum yield. A heavy arm connector plate and bolted column-to-base connections add to durability. Metal services businesses often use I-beam cantilever racking to store items such as pipe, tubing, rolls, steel bars, sheet steel, and structural members.
The cantilever racking is composed of more than 1,000 double-sided columns, more than 30,000 arms, and more than 15,000 linear feet of structural metal for guard rails. “It took 70 truckloads to deliver the racking and guard rail elements—all which came at a pace whereby installers never had to stop their work,” noted Mike Scarlati of Container Systems.
“This was a huge order, and what made it work was Steel King’s ability to get their product out on time, so installers always had buildable material on hand,” said Scarlati.
“The racking system was able to have narrower aisles—and thus have a greater storage density—through an engineering solution designed by Steel King,” said Kurt Larson, the company’s regional sales manager for the central United States. “Our engineers designed notches in rails to guide Combilift AGV vehicles, which meant that more space could be dedicated to racking rather than to aisles.”
Larson added that the new racking system enables CS&W to “operate more efficiently and with greater productivity.”
“It also will let the company adjust racking to meet changing needs. In their former facility, the racking elements were all welded, so adjustments could not be made. With our system, they’ll be able to reconfigure the racking to accommodate changing storage needs,” he said.
Del Williams is a technical writer based in Torrance, California.
Aluminum Extrusion Manufacturer Adds New State-of-the-Art Press Line
Taber Extrusions said its new press is one of the largest direct presses in North America.
RUSSELLVILLE, Ark.—Taber Extrusions recently added what the company described as one
of the largest direct presses in North America, a 10,000-ton press equipped with a 16-inch container. The state-of-the-art installation, set to go live in 2026, is specifically designed to meet the rigorous demands of the aerospace, defense, and heavy industrial markets, according to a release from Taber Extrusions.
“The new press will offer advanced heat solutions and is capable of handling both hard and soft alloys, ensuring versatility and superior performance,” the release stated. “This significant investment underscores Taber Extrusions’ commitment to providing cutting-edge technology and expanding its capabilities to serve our national defense partners and beyond.”
The front load, direct press offers cutting-edge machinery and can handle profiles up to 600mm wide. Designed for reliability, it includes a pre-stressed press frame with laminated tie-rods and compression boxes supplied by SMS Group, Taber said in the release.
For quality assurance, the press is equipped with a linear guide for precise alignment and a movable butt shear with an adjustable gap.
“Safety is paramount, with a blast shield and integrated camera to enhance operational security. This new press sets a new standard in the industry, combining advanced design, robust reliability, superior quality, and uncompromising safety,” the release stated.
The state-of-the-art design is said to incorporate an IAS Induction Heater for billet taper and a comprehensive Log Wash System, ensuring superior quality. The new system features vertical log storage for increased capacity. In addition, a TERS System is reported to enhance energy efficiency, saving 6 percent to 8 percent in energy consumption. “This innovative technology reaffirms our commitment to quality, capacity, and sustainability in extrusion processes,” Taber Extrusions said in the release.
Downstream of the press, Taber plans to incorporate the latest COMETAL Engineering technology. It reportedly features a high-performance multi-spray zone profile quench with a cooling recipe system, and quench and cooling simulation for advanced product development.
“The in-line solution heat-treatment and aging process allows us to meet AMS 2750 Class 1/2, Type B, CQI-9, and AMS 2772 specifications, ensuring top-notch quality,” the company said.
Additionally, the system includes an AGV System and adjustable racks for increased capacity and efficiency. These upgrades are said to reinforce Taber’s “commitment to excellence and innovation in the extrusion industry.”
Taber Extrusions, a minority-owned business enterprise, is AS 9100, NADCAP, and ABS certified. The company said that since its founding in 1973, it has pioneered the process of extruding rectangular billet, enabling the extrusion of solid profiles up to 31 inches wide and hollows up to 29 inches.
In 1995, Taber expanded by acquiring an extrusion facility in Gulfport, Mississippi, which includes a cast house and two additional presses, along with multiple expansions of value-added fabrication services. Taber continues to extrude billet in a wide range of alloys and sizes, including 7-inch billet molds.
The company has diversified its markets beyond the military to include aerospace, automotive, marine, infrastructure, and sporting goods, among others. For these markets, Taber supplies extruded products in a variety of soft and hard alloys.
In 2018, Taber further expanded its capabilities by adding ultra-precision extrusions, allowing them to better serve customers in the electronics, computer, and medical industries. In 2019, Taber announced its new friction stir-welding capabilities, further serving marine, defense, and infrastructure sectors. More recently, Taber added a new Haas VF-12 CNC Machine to its operations.
Taylor Machine Works Will Power Electric Port and Industrial Equipment with Proterra Battery Technology
BURLINGAME, Calif.—Taylor Machine Works and battery technology manufacturer Proterra have entered an agreement to power Taylor’s ZLC and ZEC-series electric container handlers, ZRS-series reach stackers, and ZH-series of electric forklifts using Proterra’s battery technology, according to a release from Proterra.
Taylor Machine Works is a manufacturer of industrial lift trucks, forklifts, and material handling and container handling equipment. Proterra is part of the Volvo Group.
“We are delighted to renew our partnership with Taylor Machine Works to power port and industrial machinery with Proterra battery technology,” said Chris Bailey, CEO of Proterra, in the release. “Ports keep our economies moving and, along with Taylor, we look forward to powering these engines of commerce with our premium battery technology. Now, through initiatives like the EPA Clean Ports Program, we are excited to bring even more zero-emission, battery-electric equipment to ports across America, powered by Proterra battery technology.”
Taylor Machine Works President and CEO Robert Taylor stated that Taylor Machine Works is excited to extend its partnership with Proterra to receive and integrate premium battery platforms for all of its zero-emission heavy-lift equipment.
“Taylor Machine Works is committed to provide BABA (Build America Buy America) compliant electric lift trucks throughout our heavy industrial industries,” Taylor said in the release.
The Taylor ZLC series of top-picks, introduced in 2019, were reportedly the first zero-emission, battery-electric container handling machines that were designed to load, unload, and stack shipping containers weighing up to 90,000 pounds in port environments.
Yusen Terminals is a provider of marine terminal services at the Port of Los Angeles. In June, Yusen and Taylor Machine Works reportedly put into operation the first five commercially available, battery-electric top handlers at a marine terminal in the nation. With 984 kWh of onboard energy in a Proterra battery system, these Generation II Taylor ZLC-996 electric container handlers are capable of operating for 16 to 20 hours on a single charge, while loading, unloading, and stacking 40-foot containers up to 6-high, the release stated.
Described as valuable additions to sea and inland port facilities, the Taylor ZRS reach stackers and ZEC empty container handlers feature full 2-shift run-time capabilities. The ZH series of battery electric forklifts range in lift capacity from 36,000 pounds to 100,000 pounds. They are said to be applicable in a variety of settings to handle heavy-duty, bulk materials at warehouses, steel mills, concrete plants, sawmills, and more.
Designed and assembled in the United States, Proterra’s battery platform is reported to offer “industry-leading energy density, durability, performance, and safety systems,” making Proterra EV batteries “the premium choice for commercial vehicles and industrial equipment,” the company stated.
Laser Machine Expands Steel Fabricator’s Production and Automation Capabilities
BROOKVILLE, Pa.—By acquiring a TRUMPF TruLaser Center 7030, Miller Fabrication Solutions recently augmented its capabilities as “a strategic steel fabrication partner capable of producing original equipment manufacturers’ (OEMs) most complex and intricate parts,” the company stated in a release.
The new laser machine was installed at Miller’s new Pine Creek plant, a key facility in executing the company’s future automation vision. It is described by Miller as a full-service laser cutter that “optimizes production, automatically handling every process from drawing to sorted part.”
According to Miller, the TruLaser Center 7030 increases its capacity and enables Miller to run work autonomously around the clock. Combining multiple laser-cutting processes in the TruLaser Center 7030 is also said to significantly reduce throughput times and part costs.
A strategic benefit of the Trumpf laser is its use of technology to remove and sort cut parts from nests. Miller’s investment in the machine is said to be the first step in the company’s plan to remove the vast majority of de-nesting from the plant floor by the end of 2024.
“Miller’s investment in the Trumpf laser creates a defining competitive advantage for us as a global OEM supplier partner of choice,” said Miller President Eric D. Miller, in the release. “Automating the de-nesting process also creates efficiencies, speeds up production for customers, and enables us to redeploy plant operators to other tasks that are not as easily automated, reducing the risk of employee injury and helping us manage ongoing industry labor shortages.”
With the TruLaser Center 7030, dynamic pins under the cut blanks push them up to mate with grippers, which stack parts on pallets. Integrated automation is said to ensure reliable parts handling, eliminating the need for post-processing and ensuring the highest quality, according to Miller Fabrication Solutions.
“The machine achieves peak values in cutting dynamics with up to 12kW of optimally applied laser power,” the company stated in the release. “At Pine Creek, the TruLaser Center 7030 is connected to a storage array, where finished parts are stored. Future machinery can be connected to the storage array to gain access to the sorted parts and further automate downstream operations.”
The TruLaser Center 7030 improves quality by “perfectly balancing safe processes and high productivity, rendering rework due to micro joints and spatter obsolete,” the company said.
Consolidated Equipment Group Acquires Agile Manufacturing
ALEXANDRIA, Minn.—Consolidated Equipment Group, LLC, a portfolio company of Dominus Capital, L.P., recently acquired Granite, Iowa-based Agile Manufacturing Group, LLC, operating as Agile Manufacturing, according to a release from Dominus Capital.
Agile Manufacturing is a manufacturer of agricultural, industrial, and construction material handling equipment. The company designs and manufactures a variety of attachments, including front-end loaders, grapples, buckets, and other accessories designed to seamlessly integrate with standard operating tractors and equipment.
Agile was formed by Mike and Bonita Feilmeier in 2008 to acquire two prominent brands in the attachment industry: the Miller Loader brand, established in 1971, and the GrabTec brand, launched in 2005. GrabTec was launched “in response to the increased demand for a more complete grapple solution following Hurricane Katrina,” the release stated.
In conjunction with the acquisition, Mike Feilmeier will maintain his leadership role at Agile, serving as vice president of Agile Products within the CEG platform.
“We are thrilled to welcome Agile into the CEG family,” said Tom Flynn, CEO of Consolidated Equipment Group, in the release. “Agile boasts an outstanding reputation for quality and innovation. This acquisition allows us to offer a more comprehensive product suite to our customers while enhancing our capabilities in the agricultural, industrial, and construction material handling markets. With the robust resources of the CEG platform supporting Mike and his team, Agile is poised for significant growth and success.”
“Finding the right partner for Agile was a priority for us, and we are confident that we’ve landed in the right hands with CEG and Dominus,” said Feilmeier, in the release. “Our cultures align closely, emphasizing innovation, best-in-class customer service, and top-quality products. Together, we will elevate the GrabTec and Miller brands, expanding their reach and impact across the country. I am excited to collaborate with Tom and the CEG team as we embark on this new chapter.”
Ashish Rughwani, founding partner at Dominus Capital, added, “The acquisition of Agile is a part of CEG’s continued execution of its buy-and-build strategy, expanding the company into adjacent markets and enhancing its product offerings. We are excited about the opportunities ahead for both companies working together.”
Agile is CEG’s third acquisition under Dominus’s ownership. According to the release, Consolidated Equipment Group continues to identify and assess potential add-on acquisitions to bolster CEG’s presence as a national provider of attachments and implements that serves the landscaping, construction, forestry, agriculture, utility, and infrastructure end markets.