Peddinghaus Steel Fabricators' Review Winter 2009

F A B R I C A T O R S M A K I N G T O D A Y ’ S S K Y L I N E P O S S I B L E

METAL PERREAULT Joint Venture — Never an AdventureA visitor to Quebec soon learns of the strength of the structural steelfabrication industry in the province.Many shops are engaged in the steel construction industry and are strate-gically located near the St. LawrenceRiver. In such a concentration of fabricators, how does one shop standout? Easy, by creating its own niche– focusing on the strength of itspeople, its management, and theircollective creativity; Metal Perreaulthas carved out a unique identity as ahigh quality fabricator: not just in Quebec – but in all of North America.

See full story on page 4 Gerald Perreault, Founder and CEO of Metal Perreault, Donnacona, Quebec, Canada

IN THIS ISSUEMetal Perreault 4

Joint Venture – Never an Adventure

Page Steel 6Leading the Steel Revolution

Redd Iron 10Then & Now

Oktoberfest in Review 13Munster Steel: Bridging the Gap 18

President Obama Visits Munster

2009 NASCC Steel Conference 20Seeing Arizona Harley Style

BDL 1250/D: The Results Are In 22High Speed Carbide Drill Line System

Getting To Know… 24John Holland, Vice President andGeneral Manager of SSSL

PAGE STEELLeading the Steel RevolutionThe Outback of Australia has been knownfor many years as yet another “ConcreteJungle”. With 67 percent of all construc-tion being concrete buildings, the steel construction industry has long played asecondary role in the Land Down Under.

Leading a revolution that includes the retro-fitting of pre-existing concrete structures Page Steel has a new vision for the future of steel construction inAustralia. Teaming up with Peddinghaus, and applying their unique blend of talents,Page Steel is an all-around modern success story.

See full story on page 6

George and Jacintha Piacentini, Page Steel, Derrimut, Victoria, Australia

REDD IRON A Sense of Tradition… With a Sense of Humor

One of the most unique aspects of the steelconstruction industry – especially in structuralfabrication – is the proportionately large num-ber of family owned businesses. It seems thatmany companies were founded by Grandpa,and then turned over to Dad, and then to thenext generation. It leaves you with a sense oftradition, something that keeps your feet firm-ly planted on the ground. Family businessesare a foundation of our economy, our busi-ness philosophies, and our culture, itself.

If you want to witness a true vision of theAmerican dream – a thriving family business engaged in structural fabrication –pay a visit to Brighton, Colorado. In the “high desert” of the Rockies, you will observe whatpersistence, achievement, and family values have in common. Stop in at Redd Iron and seehow family and business interact – profitably and happily – with a sense of humor.

Continued on page 10

(l-r) David Atkins, VP of Manufacturing;Brian Atkins, President/Owner; MarySchlener, Director of Finance; Chris Atkins,VP of Sales; Jarred Schlener, Estimatorof Redd Iron, Brighton, CO, USA.

MUNSTER STEEL:PHOTO CASE STUDY

A Remanufactured Drill Line in a Bridge Fabrication Shop?

See full story on page 18

Jeanne Robbins, President of Munster Steel, Munster, IN, USA

As We Look Toward the FutureIt is hard to believe we have alreadyentered 2009—closing out the firstdecade of the 21st century. Do youremember back in 1999 the world experienced near panic and profoundanxiety attacks as we approached the“New Millennium”? Pessimists werepredicting that computer software wouldfail throwing the entire world into turmoil.

This New Year has been ushered in with severe economic conditions—andrelative news that is serious cause forconcern. This “Economic Perfect Storm”has the unusual effect of striking allcountries in the world and virtually everyindustry—including steel constructionand heavy plate fabrication.

We would be foolish to under-estimatethe severity of this Recession. However,as in every crisis, one needs to advancewith care and trepidation—but the keyword is ADVANCE. That is the one wordof advice we can offer, ADVANCE. It ismore simple for you and your companythan you think.

Don’t sit on the sidelines and wait to get run over by a negative economy. Get up and fight back. Easier said than done, you say. Well, here are a few suggestions from some pretty smart people.

Lyle Menke

2 STEEL FABRICATORS’ REVIEW WINTER 2009

ADVANCEIn Tough Times Turn to TechnologyNow is the time to explore new technology - and exactly what it can do for your firm! The industry has seentremendous advances in machine tool design and capability. Peddinghaus alone has introduced SIX (6) NEWMachines in the past six months:

• HSFDB 2500 High Speed Plate Processor with carbide drilling, tapping, counter sinking, plasma contour cutting, part marking – and more

• BDL 1250 D Structural Drill – drills accurate holes in under 3 seconds• 800/600 high speed band saw• Affordably priced FPD 1120 plate processor with drill/punch capability• Towermaster APS 2063: Anglemaster precision with 6 tools and incredible speed• The Ring of Fire – the ultimate structural steel processor of the future

Today’s Peddinghaus fabrication machine tools are designed for you. Here’s why you save labor & save money:

• They are designed to run 24/7• Download directly from BIM models• Machines are multi-functional: performing many tasks in one machine – with one operator• They are operator and service friendly

Peddinghaus is behind you 100% with the best service and warranty in the business, and a training program that insures you are ready to compete and excel!

Check Out Your Shop Layout: Big Tonnages in Small Spaces

Take a walk into your shop, and plan on spending an hour or two. Watch your overhead cranes:

• Track the time it takes to chain up or position a flange clamp on a profile• Track the time it takes to lift it in the air• Track the time it takes for welders/fitters to stop and watch the crane/beam go by• Track the time until the beam is successfully placed at it’s new location.

You will be surprised at the time it takes – and even more surprised at how much of a“spectator sport” crane movement is.

Peddinghaus maintains experts at shop layout and production efficiency. We have aspecial presentation on Big Tonnages in Small Spaces which we would be happy toshare with you. It is loaded with tips that will save you money and make you moreproductive in less space.

Small Tasks Make for a BIG Difference

Have you ever taken a walk through your yard, and checked out your stock inventory? Instead of wringing yourhands over the excess, your first activity should be to verify it – and put it in order.

Your Mother always said that “Cleanliness is next to Godliness” so take some time to organize your yard. Makesure every beam, column, angle, channel, tube, and plate are organized by shape and size. Why? Did you ever consider the excess time wasted – meaning money – that you spend for a material handler to hunt for a specificsection size?

Structural fabricators have analyzed this situation and have determined that a minimum of 15 minutes per hour iswasted by yard material handlers searching for the right profile. That adds up to 2 hours wasted per day and 10hours per week. On a one shift basis that costs you up to $30,000 per year factoring in wages and overhead costslike insurance, benefits, etc.

It may sound small, but it all adds up. Say to 2009!!

What is Steel Day 2009?

The NASCC in Phoenix will be the location for a Peddinghaus announcement that will have a great impact on the industry! Steel Day 2009 is coming – be ready – and watch for details!

WINTER 2009 STEEL FABRICATORS’ REVIEW 3

If you look back only three months to October2008, the global currency markets saw the U.S.Dollar around $1.4 to the Euro and $1.78 tothe UK Pound. The price of a barrel of oil wasat $80! I guess I don't have to tell you what happened to the price of steel. Wow, I wish Ihad only known then what I know now! I toldmy family that I would be happy to pay $120 to fill up my car again if I would have the powerto restore the economy!

But, like I tell my kids, “You can’t cry overspilled milk!” So, let’s stop the whining! In

this issue you will see anarticle in regards to theOktoberfest. I have to say itwas the pinnacle highlight

in 2008 for all of us here at PeddinghausCorporation. I would like to personally thank allour customers for taking the time to come andvisit us in Bradley.

Every employee of Peddinghaus Corporationwas thrilled to have so many customers visit us –from such distant lands – some as far away asAustralia. Our team could not believe the out-come of this event. On our final night we hadover 1,500 people in attendance!

As we all know, one cannot stage such an occa-sion without a good team of employees. I haveto say I’m the proudest CEO! Many of youwrote thank you notes which I have includedwith this publication. We all agree this was anevent of a lifetime and luck certainly played a part in it too (thank you Mother Nature forperfect weather)!

So thanks again to:

• Our Ladies and Gentlemen who work forPeddinghaus Corporation

• Our Customers• Our Vendors• Our Business partners• All the Entertainers• The Event planners• And last but certainly not least, my family wholet me have my dream come true

Through the success of Oktoberfest, Peddinghaushas secured orders all the way out to April 2009.This could not have come at a better time!

As you can tell I can go on and on, but best is tojust read the article in this issue.

Lately I have had a couple of smaller customerscontact me asking how PeddinghausCorporation will deal with the upcoming economic challenges. I thought this part mightbe interesting to write about. Here again,thanks to Peddinghaus Corporation’s 105 yearhistory, we can learn how our family successfullydealt with past economic slow downs:

• My grandfather Paul alwayshired new talented employees;his saying was you have tolook into the future. Whenthe economy comes back wewill be stronger then ever.This was especially true formany of our engineers

• My dad always invested innew equipment. He men-tioned you could not get abetter deal and you have timeto install & learn the equip-ment the right way. Be readyto lose some money. Like the saying goes you makesome and you lose some! Not all the peopleonce hired are excellent. As managers we allknow that employees are certainly not the same in ability or attitude. At PeddinghausCorporation we identify underachievers as our “C” players. Now is the time to seriouslyevaluate employee performances, and rid yourcompany of those people lacking initiative. Inthe final analysis, you will probably learn thatthey don’t even want to work for you!

In closing, I want to remind you that we haveall experienced some very good years recently –so be thankful – and be prepared for tomorrow.Don’t back off – say to today’s economic challenges.

At Peddinghaus Corporation, we are staying positive by Saying to 2009 the best way we know how —by serving our customers and the industry:

• Superior customer service - no reduction or dropoff in technical support: we are here for you!

• Full parts inventory for same day shipments• Active participation in steel industry eventssuch as trade shows, seminars, tour groups, etc.

You need anything – give us a call!

Remember – the glass is always half full – todayit may seem like it is leaking a bit, but keepworking at it and it will soon “bubble over”.

Best of luck to you in the New Year! I look forward to welcoming you to Bradley in 2009.

F R O M T H E C E ODear Customers and Friends,Do you remember the tagline in the movie Apollo 13 with Tom Hanks…

“Houston, we have a problem”? One of my favorite lines by the way,

only this time around I like to say “the whole world has a problem!”

In speaking with my father over the holidays, even Carl Ullrich believes

“I have seen many things in my life time — but never such an extreme

world wide financial fluctuation!

Anton Peddinghaus

say


METAL PERREAULT

Joint Venture—Never an Adventure

The strength of the firm lies in their ability tospecialize on joint venture projects, which focus-es on the creativity of their staff of engineers,project managers, and shop specialists. Diversityis the key, with Metal Perreault having the abili-ty to perform all of these project functions:

• Structural Steel Fabrication • Basic frames to architecturally challenging• Miscellaneous/Ornamental Fabrication• Simple stairs to the most complex design• Sheet Metal Fabrication• HVAC Ductwork• Ferrous and non-Ferrous MetalsManufacturing

Metal Perreault does it all.

In Tough Economic Times, Be FlexibleMetal Perreault has experienced continuedgrowth since its founding in 1988. Why? By focusing on the market’s trend and specialneeds of their customers, they have built a reputation for tackling the toughest jobs. What type of projects have Metal Perreault builttheir reputation on?

• Complex Fabrication Projects• Jobs with Short Delivery Times• Sophisticated Miscellaneous projects• Challenging jobs “subbed” to them by otherfabricators

“We have built our niche by accepting new, difficult challenges,” says owner GeraldPerreault, “We have the people and the machinetools to be successful.”

Why are they successful?“It’s quite simple” says Perreault, “We embracetechnology and commit to quality – our customers demand it – and the combination of using technology to create quality is the coreof our business philosophy.”

Technology & Quality + Flexibility = SuccessMetal Perreault ranks among the best in theindustry in innovation for structural steel andmiscellaneous metal fabrication. Taking intoconsideration the diversified needs of the mar-ket, their flexibility opens doors to numerousinnovations and project “tailoring” needs.

How does Peddinghaus enter the successequation at Metals Perreault? “By using our Peddinghaus machinery, such asour BDL drill line, our AFPS 623 anglemaster,and our newest addition – the FPB 1800 plate processor – we insure above average competitive quality/price ratio to our customer.We always know that the Peddinghaus equipment NEVER LETS US DOWN –which leaves the assurance to our customersthat we will always deliver on time.

“We are always on the lookout for newadvanced technologies, and we know that apiece of equipment or machinery can make thedifference not only in delivery but also in profitand loss.”

Why Choose Peddinghaus?When Metal Perreault decided to invest moneyin new technology to increase its productivity, itneeded machinery that is manufactured with asmuch quality as Metal Perreault provides to theircustomers. However, it is not feasible to “testdrive” before you buy.

“Our Peddinghaus representative, Steve Farrow,had exactly the knowledge and the experience to suggest the right machine to fit our need – he never “oversold” us or tried to steer us to a higher priced machine. His judgment wasalways honest and accurate. Even more, hecould answer all our questions – before, andafter – the purchase.

Metal Perreault purchased their PeddinghausBDL Drill/Saw line in 2003. With the infeedmaterial handling system in the yard, the drill

Metal Perreault has carved out a niche for itself through its highly specialized work in metal

manufacturing for the industrial, institutional and commercial sectors. The company’s founder,

Gerald Perreault, gained experience and know-how by working within the industry for many years

before launching his own company in October 1987.

Mr. Perreault is flanked by his key staff members Miss Sophie Bourgeois, Mr. Simon Harnois, Mr. Cyrille Guerin, and Miss Louise Talbot.

What used to take hours for plate detail now takes minutes.

Nesting Software powers the FPB-1800 which eliminatesscrap and saves inventory dollars.


line provides the perfect production scenario forthem. The system works two shifts and feeds theentire shop.

In addition to accurate hole making and beamsawing, the system employs part marking anddrill pop marking (layout marking) that providesaccurate location for the next operations. Thisincludes positioning for plate and angle compo-nents such as web stiffeners, gusset plate, andclip angle connections.

With increased beam capacity via the drill/sawline, Metal Perreault soon saw the need for

increased detail capacity. Thus, the AFPS 623Anglemaster purchase followed one year later.The Anglemaster empowered Metal Perreault todesign more clip (clete) angle connections - withthe ability to bolt together. With the ability toprocess flat stock as well, Metal Perreault designengineers employed more cap plate connectionsas well which led to decreased costs in bothinventory and production time. Continued on page 8

BEFORE: Six workers and one burn table to process plate detail.

AFTER: FPB-1800 and one operator.

Even in Quebec’s cold climate storing steel outside is theperfect space saving solution.

The Peddinghaus saw/drill processing line has been a mainstay of production at Metals Perreault for many years.

All beams processed on the drill line during one shift arefabricated for shipment within 24 hours.

Metal Perreault specializes in industrial, institutional, and commercial projects — no job is too big or too small.


One key addition to the company was the hiringof Lynne Piacentini.Lynne joined the companyduring the mid eighties to apply her financialexpertise to the company’s corporate initiatives.In a short time Lynne and her husband Georgebegan playing a more active role in the firm andlater purchased a 50% stake in the company.

With the company steadily growing while earning a reputation for exceptional service and quality the Piacentini family answeredopportunity when it beckoned – in 2006 PageSteel came completely under the ownership of the Piacentini family. The family began totake a closer look at the ways that it couldimprove Page Steel’s procedures in order tobecome an even stronger force in the Australiansteel construction market

Reinvention — The Formula for a Modern Success StoryAlthough already an established company with ahistory of accomplishment, the Piacentini familytook an aggressive approach toward retooling thecompany’s processes.

Lynne and George recognized the need toreduce the cost of production in order to staycompetitive with the low prices of concretestructures – Investing in new equipment, reduc-ing rental & overhead costs while streamliningproduction & administrative processes were cru-cial to achieving their goal. Enlisting the talentsof their son Chris, and daughter Jacintha, thePiacentini family created a family formula forproductivity.

Working in conjunction with an outside software company, Chris designed two software packages – Steeltrack and Esteel – in order to maximize the efficiency of shop flow and track jobs throughout production.

Jacintha’s experience working for one of thestate’s largest builders gave her all the tools necessary to assume the role as Project Managerfor Page Steel. Although other companies ofcomparable size generally employ multipleProject Managers, Jacintha is able to monitor all of the processes at Page Steel using the programs Chris developed.

Introducing the CNC “Advantage” – With PeddinghausIn an effort to further cut costs, the Piacentinisrecognized the need to add a ‘true beamline system’, and other cutting edge technology totheir fabricating arsenal.

After reviewing the qualities of several competi-tive companies Page Steel purchased their firstPeddinghaus machines – the “Advantage” PCD-1100 three spindle drill line, and DG-1100 Miter Band Saw with Material Handling.

“Looking at the build quality of the machines

immediately impressed us. The machines are so solid

compared to some of the others we had looked at.

Realizing the benefits of moving steel with conveyors

and cross transfers made the decision easy.”

With this purchase the firm got their first tasteof what a Peddinghaus Machine can do for acompany. Shortly after installation they were soimpressed with the performance of the machinesthat they immediately placed an order for an823 Anglemaster.

“This turned out to change the direction of PageSteel, and enabled the company to tackle muchlarger projects. As Page Steel is extremely criticalon precision the machine had to prove itself toall employees. Immediately we had beenimpressed with both the speed and accuracy ofthe saw and drill, as well as the build quality.

Page Steel’s largest individual project had beenundertaken in 2008, fabricating 5000 tons for 2 distribution centers. This could not have been even entertained without the newPeddinghaus equipment.”

More than Machines – Partners in ProductivityWith the addition of the new machines Page Steel and Peddinghaus began a strong partnership that has grown beyond the initialpurchase of their first machines. The skilled staffthat Peddinghaus employs have assisted PageSteel every step of the way – from the manyservice professionals to our friendly sales staff.Everyone at Peddinghaus is a part of Page Steel’steam effort.

PAGE STEEL

Leading the Steel RevolutionA Tradition of Growth

The early 1970s marked the birth of Page Steel. With 5 employees, and an undersized shed, the companybegan fabricating projects for smaller builders. Large homes, small apartment buildings, and small warehouses were the primary source of income for the organization during its early years. Outgrowingtheir shop space several times throughout the seventies and eighties Page Steel continued to expand inboth their workforce and shop space.

(l-r) Geoff Hooper of Eurotec, Lynne Piacentini and ChrisPiacentini of Page Steel.

The new ABCM 1250 will soon be in operation for Page Steel


“Ian Maxwell from Peddinghaus and GeoffHooper from Eurotec have had a huge influencein the design and layout of the systems. Ian hasbeen a pivotal factor in our purchases. He hasfirsthand knowledge of the machines capabilitiesand a tremendous focus on efficient ways ofmoving steel from process to process.”

Even customer service has had the opportunityto supply Page Steel with guidance when theyneeded it. Peddinghaus’ 60+ field service techni-cians, and inside computer service experts consistently find solutions for fabricators all overthe globe. A testimonial to the efforts of theseprofessionals is evident when a fabricator on theother side of the world has a question abouttheir Peddinghaus machine, and solving it is aseasy as checking their email.

“In the early days we had a question on thePCD1100, the Peddinghaus service departmentwas able to dial into machine, gain power of thecontrol panel and fix the problem. This was veryimpressive and sorted the problem out withoutexcessive down-time.”

“Peddinghaus service in conjunction withEurotec has absolutely been marvelous.Peddinghaus has made a commitment to PageSteel by keeping stock of core components of all of our machines in Australia. When additional parts are required they arrive withoutfuss in 3 days to our door.”

World Travelers, Oktoberfest VisitorsPage Steel joined 3,500+ fabricators from allover the globe recently when they visitedPeddinghaus’ Oktoberfest this past fall. Havingordered yet another Peddinghaus machine priorto the event – an ABCM-1250 triple torchcoper – the firm set out to meet thePeddinghaus staff and see the operation inBradley, Illinois. Taking full advantage of theopportunity, Page Steel talked business with fabricators from all over the world. Leaving witha wealth of knowledge on how the modern fabricator battles market conditions, the 20 hourplane ride was definitely worthwhile.

“George and Chris have asked me

to thank Peddinghaus sincerely

for the fantastic time they

had in Chicago. They were so

impressed with the generosity

and hospitality shown to them,

they have not stopped talking

about their time there.”

– Lynne Piacentini

Watching Their Plan Take ActionResults are what this story is all about. The addi-tion of the new equipment has played a crucialrole in Page Steel’s recent success. The speed andprecision of the Peddinghaus equipment haslowered costs for Page Steel and helped establishPage Steel as the pace-setter in the Australiansteel construction market.

“We feel we have a huge advantage in the indus-try by moving to Peddinghaus CNC machines,as steel moves so much faster through eachprocess. This will enable us to have every chanceto tackle our goal of steel dominating the multilevel markets.”

“We really consider Peddinghaus and Eurotec asteam partners. The new machines keep runningday and night, and keep producing accurateprocessed sections. Our output has increased somuch that we have had to promote an internalemployee to the role of second in charge of theworkshop for day shift.”

“We are now producing up to 200 tons perweek, and previously we had been hitting 100 to 120. Part of the large increase has also beenan increase in workshop labor. I would imaginein U.S terms this is not considered a large volume of steel, but in the Australian market200 tons a week makes Page Steel one of largestfabricators in the state.”

The Anglemaster 823, complete with loading/unloadingsystem, made processing detail fast and efficient. The Aldi Distribution Centre would not have previously been possible for Page Steel to fabricate in the time frame

required by our client without the aid of our Peddinghaus machines.

The PCD1100 worked 20 hours per day cutting and drilling beams from 100mm angle to large 900mm welded girders. Some of the larger beams had around 100 holes each.

The PCD1100 performed perfectly, and easily kept up with our program. At the tail end of the project theAnglemaster 823C arrived and immediately went into action processing thousands of smaller 65mm angles.

Previously we would have had to do this manually, but now can punch the 65mm angle bracing on our Peddinghausiron worker. In one hour the Anglemaster 823C, together with the automated loading and unloading conveyors can produce more than an employee could previously achieve in over 1 full shift.

The Anglemaster complements the PCD1100, as it processes all angles and allows the PCD to concentrate on otherstructural sections.

The project was very successful for Page Steel, and has shown this client and potential clients that we are able tohandle large projects with ease.

–Chris Piacentini, Page Steel


METAL PERREAULTContinued from page 5

We Replaced 6 Men With One Machine….As business continued to thrive, Metal Perreaultsaw their plate detail requirements soar. Toattack this production bottleneck, they againturned to Peddinghaus expertise for the rightmachine selection.

“We considered all the Peddinghaus plateoptions,” says Simon Harnois, Project Manager,“but the FPB 1800 plasma/plate punchingmachine was the wise choice for us”.The FPB 1800 was one of the best investmentswe have made. Here’s why:

• The FPB paid for itself within one year• The labor saving is fantastic - one man canproduce what took 6 before

• No burn table headaches• Stock plate loading • Fishing out parts with a laborer• Creating holes for the burned parts• Material handling for all the above• No more environmental hazards with the waste water table

• Software Nested parts means less scrap andmore profit

• Plate inventory is manageable again• It takes up little shop space.

“We NEVER Lost Production Time Due to a Service Issue”“Everyone in this business knows that time ismoney. Peddinghaus service has always kept usin their priority. Even though we are located inEastern Canada, Peddinghaus continually strivesto help us. Here’s how:

• Local service – Peddinghaus has a bi-lingualservice technician, Jean Marc Tousignant,located here in Quebec

• Peddinghaus telephone service is available for us6 am to 6 pm, as we are an hour ahead (EasternTime)…this really helps us “get started early”

• Peddinghaus keeps every part in stock – eventhough we are in eastern Canada, the parts are delivered within 24 hours

Tough Times Demand TechnologySays Gerald Perreault, “Peddinghaus has reallyhelped Metal Perreault stay at the forefront of thelatest technology for structural steel fabrication.More importantly for us, Peddinghaus commit-ment to us translates directly to our customers.”

A good partner is hard to find

— but we have found

a good one in Peddinghaus.

Cyrille and Gerald agree “The FPB-1800 is one of the best investments we have ever made.”

The Anglemaster 623 has been producing accurate anglecomponents for many years.



Redd Iron

A Sense of Tradition… With a Sense of HumorAs a young man, Brian Atkins was active in the steel brokering business,

from a base in the Midwest. His business trips took him often to Colorado,

where he always enjoyed the time spent there. Finally, he heeded the words

of Horace Greeley, “Go West, Young Man”, and Atkins took the steps to settle

down in 1983. Along with this came the itch to start his own steel business.

On April 1, 1998, Redd Iron was born, specializing in structural and miscellaneous steel fabrication. Why April 1? As noted, the family thatlaughs together stays together, and the date was chosen essentially as a joke.But, no April Fool’s joke here: Redd Iron is a thriving entity – directed,operated, managed, and worked by the Atkins family.

Redd Iron & Peddinghaus Team Up for Perfect Shop LayoutWhen Redd Iron chose to proceed with their plans to install an automatedsystem, they turned to their local source: Jim Daldos of Structural &Fabrication Equipment in Denver. Jim arranged for a family visit withMom, Dad and the children to Peddinghaus to see the equipment in operation – and just as important – sit down and discuss shop material flowand layout with their engineers.

One of the big challenges facing Redd Iron was trying to incorporate a largenew piece of equipment into a space that has been expanded upon 2 timespreviously, without planning for a third. One of the major concerns of Vice President of Manufacturing David Atkins, “We cannot disrupt the flowof material from one shop to the other. In order to keep this passagewayopen Redd Iron was faced with the possibility of a very costly and somewhatunnecessary expansion that almost shelved this project.”

“We had a basic idea of how the new system would operate in our shop, butwe were looking for an economic solution … and the Peddinghaus engineers– Greg Carpenter and Bryan Martin – had some good ones,” advised David.

“The importance of good material flow focuses on beam handling. ThePeddinghaus Quiet Glide System maintains lift and carry transfer modulesthat enable us to store on both sides of the conveyor line - infeed and exit.

“With our shop layout, we have a separate bay where we produce most ofour plate and angle detail components,” explained David, “A concern washow to transport it from the detail bay to the welders in the fabrication bay.”

A major advantage of the Peddinghaus lift and carry transfer system is theability to operate individual stands or carriages in tandem or independently.With the help of the Peddinghaus engineers and the versatility of the quietglide system Redd Iron and Peddinghaus pushed this design to a new level,deciding to use this option to their advantage.

“The Peddinghaus Quiet Glide system had the capacity to operate two ofthe stands independently; thus, we were able to install two of the stands at alonger overall length, and extend them into the detail bay.”

“We devised a cart system for transporting the detail components – identified by job number – from the detail bay into the fabrication bay.Simple, fast, effective.”

This flexibility enables us to run multiple projects which helps us react fasterto job changes, helps with our stock inventory costs, and keeps us “on track”for production.

Detail Parts + Drilled/Sawed Beams + Welders - Material Handling = ProfitSays David, “Material handling is such a vital part of the fabrication process that is overlooked – we believe our processing system now adds toour bottom line profitability.”

Then and Now: Production Capacity with Same EmployeesPurchasing Peddinghaus was a big decision for the Atkins family. But aquick look at the past, present, and future production capabilities of thePeddinghaus PCD/DG 1100 saw and drill line quickly reveal facts proving a sound business decision:

The material handling outside with the ability to store on both sides of the conveyor enables Redd Iron to run different jobs simultaneously.


PAST PRESENT FUTURE

100 tons/week 250 +, tons/week 300 +, tons/week

(mag drill) (PCD/DG System) (PCD/DG + CNC Detail)

Steel Erection Drives QualityA well known entity in the Rocky Mountain region is the steel erectiondivision of the Redd Iron Family – Pyramid Steel Erectors.

“We recognized from an early time, the vital importance of steel erection,and the effect it can have on your bottom line,” says Brian Atkins. “In2002, we started the erection company, and it has positively driven ourbusiness in many ways.”

• Providing flexibility in our Production Schedule• No “last minute” surprises• Assists with inventory allocation• Controlling field costs helps Redd Iron achieve and maintain valued relationships• Adds to our quality control standards which enhances our reputation

Controlling the erection process is a big asset as it eliminates costly litigation and much of the on site “finger pointing” which bogs down projects and jeopardizes business relationships.


The operator-friendly Siemens 840 Di control powers the system for Redd Iron.

The versatility of Peddinghaus cross transfers enables Redd Iron to process detail in onebay and fabricate in another.


REDD IRONContinued from page 10

Advantages of Automation

Sitting down with the Atkins family will make even the most jaded economic pessimist look to the “bright side”….when asked about automa-tion, the key is “Future”.

Since their relatively short experience withthe automated Peddinghaus system, andaccompanying software and design/buildtechnologies, the Atkins are not hesitant inexpressing their thoughts:

• “Increased Speed, Effective Organization,and Improved Accuracy”

• “Gives us a dynamic ProcessingImprovement which gives more time toaddress other business issues and challenges”

• “Opens new markets for us – which means Redd Iron can grow – on our terms”

• “We can bid now on profitable fast track jobs with full confidence inmeeting deadlines”

• “In a difficult market or economic down turn, we maintain capability tofabricate any job – with fewer people.”

Atkins Family ValuesThe key to any company’s success is its employees – good ones are hard tofind. When you are blessed with a group of children who maintain yourfamily legacy of hard work, diligence, and achievement, it seems pretty natu-ral to involve them in the business. That’s exactly what Brian Atkins,President, and Mary L. Atkins, Corporate Secretary/Treasurer did.

The success of Redd Iron – and its sister firm Pyramid Steel Erectors – isproof that prudent business decisions have far reaching positive effects. The dedication and commitment of family members brings the enterprise to a high level of efficiency, ensuring longevity and competitiveness in themarket for many years to come.

“I am really proud of my children,” says Brian Atkins, “not only for ourbusiness success, but for our family success as well.”

Lowery II Medical Building being erected by Pyramid Steel – a division of Redd Iron.

The PCD/DG-1100 is the backbone of production for Redd Iron.

Lowry II Medical Center – 185 tons at completion.

In 2002 Redd Iron founded Pyramid Erectors and it has positively driven the business inmany ways.


I just wanted to send a shortnote saying how much we enjoyed Oktoberfest. I appreciate the hospitality and information provided. The show really opened our eyes to the future of the steel fabricating industry. It isexciting to know that Peddinghaus is on the cutting edge of equipment technology and willhave the right solutions for fabricators to help us as our business grows.

— David Merchant, PresidentMerchant Iron Works Inc.

Peddinghaus would like to thank our industry partners and Oktoberfest attendees for playing a crucial role in the event’s success. Peddinghaus’ showcase of cuttingedge technology, five star entertainment, and world class hospitality appealed to the attendees from nearly 40 different countries this past September 24th-27th.

The almost 4,000 visitors that had made the trip to Bradley were given free reign over the Peddinghaus Corporate Campus. Nothing was off limits at Peddinghaus as customersand industry partners walked freely throughout the offices talking to employees, and otherindustry professionals at their leisure.

For those looking for a more structured tour – those ran around the clock throughout theevent. Transportation was arranged so visitors could see not only the main campus but theFabrication Shop and Remanufacturing Facilities across town.

When the sun went down Lou Holtz, The Kankakee Valley Symphony Orchestra, ThePendragons, and The Barenaked Ladies entertained the crowd late into the evening. If magic,music, or sports icons weren’t enough – thousands of five star meals were served during theevent to keep hungry fabricators coming back for more.

In addition to Peddinghaus, 15 other industry leaders were on display – the Technohausinformed spectators on the industry’s hottest trends. Presentations like “Big Tonnages in SmallPlaces” left fabricators leaving with industry knowledge you couldn’t find anywhere else.

The new technology received rave reviews during Oktoberfest specifically the Ring of Firethermal fabrication system, the High Speed FDB-2500 plate processing system, and theBDL-1250/D drill line – all of which were demonstrated continuously during the event.

Testimonials from customers have been coming from all corners of the industry, and arefeatured on the following pages.

I N R E V I E W



I just wanted to thank you for inviting AISC toparticipate in Oktoberfest 2008. I worked ourbooth on Saturday, and I was able to attend dinner and the concert on Saturday night. What a fantastic event! One of the best nights out I’vehad in while! Thanks!

— Keith A. Grubb, Regional EngineerAmerican Institute of Steel Construction

I would like to thank all of you for a great timeand a very informative show. Your facility is top notch and you should be proud, your peoplewere very helpful. Thanks to Alicia, she triesvery hard to get us the best product you guys can put out. Lyle & Paul, you guys are great!

Thanks so much, I hope to be invited to the next Oktoberfest!

— Ed LanhamMarion Steel Fab

I personally, and Tekla would like to thank youfor giving us the opportunity to attend and present at this year's Oktoberfest 2008. It was a fantastic event. Transportation and accommo-dations were great. We had a steady flow of good quality traffic not only on a North Americanlevel, but internationally. We were busy and taking questions all the way up until 5PMSaturday evening. It was a fantastic event for us, and we hope we can do another event withyou guys at the next Oktoberfest and also haveyou present at our next User Meeting event next summer.

— Christopher Keyack, Steel Production managerNorth America

I would just like to thank you for the amazingevent that you guys put together. I thoroughlyenjoyed it! Please congratulate all involved formaking it a success. The Peddinghaus staff wasvery accommodating, friendly, professional andprovided a wealth of useful information. We arelooking forward to working with you again.

— Jacques J. de la Querra, Project EngineerGroup Five Steel

Thank you for the invitation to Oktoberfest andgiving us a great tour on Thursday. It is excitingto see the changes within the Bradley facility. I can't believe the changes that have taken placesince the beginning of this year! The innovationsin your products speak volumes about the engineering staff and direction of Peddinghaus.The HSFBD 2500 is an impressive machine. Pauland I agreed to get in touch in the near futureand set up a meeting on site at Ryerson Chicago,I will keep you updated. Please express myappreciation to the entire Peddinghaus team forsuch a fine event.

— Brian SeeleyRyerson

Thank you very much for the great event and thehospitality last week. The whole MEBA team isproud to work together with this fantasticPeddinghaus team.

I am sure it was a enormous task with a lot ofwork for you and your team to create this event.From all customers I got a great feedback duringthe Oktoberfest and I just can join this opinion.You really made a fantastic job. The Oktoberfestwill be beneficial for business and of course forour partnership.

— Marc Kashel, Exports Sales ManagerMeba

We had such a great time last week! You guysdefinitely outdid yourselves. Your staff was helpful, friendly, and wonderful!

— Carly Moore, Membership Services ManagerAISC

I wanted to thank the entire Peddinghaus family for the hospitality everyone has shownour people during last week. We certainly enjoythe partnership between our companies and ofcourse everyone needs to see the business sideas well as enjoy our time together in everythingwe do.

Please extend my thanks also to Anton who obviously did invest a lot in this event and I hopeyou had as much fun as we did during our visit to Oktoberfest.

— Hans G Ehrnrooth, PresidentTekla, Inc.

I speak for everyone in the UK touring groupwhen I say that it was an incredible show – aweinspiring in fact – everything ran very smoothly,no doubt because of both of your efforts and yourexcellent team over Bradley.

— G. HomeRoberts, UK Participant




. . .the best and biggest steel fabrication gather-ing I've ever attended in my life'!! – I would sayPeddinghaus has well and truly put itself on themap – Congratulations.

— Bob KilleleaJames Killelea and Sons, UK

This was the greatest corporate event I haveever attended. It was outstanding! Thank you toall for making my week a productive and memo-rable experience.

— Texas Fabricator

I cannot tell you how much we appreciate theopportunity in having participated in you outstanding event. The opportunities for mycompany were outstanding. Hopefully our participation was helpful for you event as well.

— Jeffery SaxmanCombilift, Dublin, Ireland

Thank you so much for the great weekend withPeddinghaus. Every one of your staff went out of their way to make us feel at home. We think ofSteve Farrow, Paul Muraski, and Ted Trybek asfriends, not sales personnel. That is a huge compliment to your whole organization. Thechanges in Bradley since my last visit are reallyimpressive. Best of Luck.

— Duff ZimmermanCooper Steel Supply, Shelbyville, Tennessee

What can we say - ‘Wow’ what an incredibleevent! Very nice job - well done. Thank you, asalways for all of your hospitality.

— Paolo ColucciMaple Industries, Chatham, Ontario, Canada

Thank you so much for a wonderful Oktoberfestcelebration. We all had a wonderful experiencewith the “Peddinghaus Family”. It was great toshare your business’ successes and the cama-raderie of your employees and representatives.

— Dennis MaddoxDenCol Supply, Inc., Denver, Colorado

George and Chris have asked me to thank yousincerely for the fantastic time they had inChicago. They were so impressed with the generosity and hospitality shown to them, theyhave not stopped talking about their time there.

— Lynne Piacentini — Page Steel Fabrications Pty. Ltd, Derrimut, Victoria,Australia

Thank you very much for inviting me to thePeddinghaus Oktoberfest, I thoroughly enjoyedmyself. Peddinghaus’ hospitality was of the highest possible standard and I look forward to a long relationship with the company. Getting an inside look into the company was very beneficial and from this I don’t think it ispossible for any other machine manufacturer to compete in any way.

— James van RooyenTranscape Steels, Capetown, South Africa



MUNSTER STEEL

Bridging The Gap Between Value & PrecisionMunster Steel is NOT your prototypical structural steel fabricator. True, Munster has a proud family heritage dating back three generations, but Munster’s approach to fabrication is multi faceted. Though they have the capacity, they do not specialize in high rise or power plant work, nor do they specialize in industrial or commercialwork. Rather, Munster tackles tough jobs that demand precision and attention todetails. It is not unusual to walk their shop, and see fabrications in process forbridges, building structures, and “miscellaneous” work.

Under the direction of the Robbins family, Munster has found success byfocusing on difficult jobs that demand pinpoint accuracy – but have shortdelivery times. Sound tough? Munster Steel thrives on it.

Replacing a “Tired” MachineMunster Steel had to make a decision. Their existing Peddinghaus BDL1250 drill was nine years old, and had seen many, many holes. Average running time was 12 hours per day for those nine years.

“Like any used car, it was worn out”, advisedMiro Cigler Munster Shop Foreman, “Inwatching it run recently, we knew it had tobe replaced”.

Jeanne Robbins, Munster President, was instru-mental in the decision process, and describesher thoughts on the decision-making process.“We built the reputation of Munster Steel onquality and delivery, I could not jeopardize these standards, so we made thedecision to move forward.”

Justification Process for Buying Remanufactured“We examined all options for the existing drill line – a Peddinghaus modelBDL 1250 – this is how we proceeded:

OPTION 1 – Retrofit the existing drill

Positives:• No need to disassemble machine - perform retrofit on site• Steel frame is strong – update any obvious worn parts – mechanical,hydraulic, and electrical

• Initially, seemed like the fastest way to proceed• The drill line had already been expanded from a 3 to 9 spindle machine 6 years ago

Negatives:• Difficult to determine exactly which components require replacementwithout a thorough machine review – probably by a service tech

• Retrofit components – compatible with the existing machine had to beordered, assembled, and delivered

• Warranty on replacement parts only• Upon examining the machine, the on site down time would be prohibitive• There are more items to trouble shoot with a retrofitted machine, as aproblem could come from any area: mechanical, hydraulic, or electronic.

OPTION 2 – Purchase a new machine

OPTION 3 – Purchase a remanufactured BDL 1250 from Peddinghaus/SSSL

Positives:• BDL 1250 was completely retrofitted and upgraded – all worn partsreplaced - regardless if mechanical, hydraulic, or electrical

• Fast Delivery - available in 3 weeks• New machine warranty: 1 year parts and labor• Price was 2/3 of a new machine• Remanufactured BDL 1250 fit perfectly into existing shop location• No retraining of Operators and maintenance people• From time, the old drill was removed until drilling holes on next job wasabout 2 days

“The remanufactured machine looks brand new,” says Miro, “It is totallyrepainted, and you can see the meticulous care taken in the remanufacturedprocess. Also, the Peddinghaus technicians from their SSSL division werefast, cooperative, and knowledgeable.”

“We removed the old drill, SSSL delivered the new remanufactured BDL,and we located in place the same day – great teamwork”, added Jeanne.

The new drill has already participated in some new projects from Munster. A bascule bridge girder, with many holes (400) was processed. In additionto beams and columns, the BDL has already processed angle and channelas well.

Jeanne with Miro Cigler, Shop Superintendent

Positives:• New Machine, latest technology• Good delivery • New warranty

Negatives:• Higher Cost• Operators/Maintenance had to learnnew technologies (control, etc)

• Some modifications needed toexisting drill location: concrete,passline, etc

(right) Bridge girder for 92nd Street bascule bridge in Chicago – processed on remanufactured BDL 1250/9, FDB 1500 plate processor and Anglemaster.


A Fabricator’s Voice in Washington – President Obama Visits Munster Steel

During the Indiana primary election last May, President Obama made a special visitto Munster Steel. Why? Can you find a better voice for infrastructure expertise than a structural fabricator? Especially a structural fabricator who has an intimateknowledge of both buildings and bridges?

Mr. Obama spent some time learning first hand about the structural steel fabricationprocess: the functions of fitters and detailers, and what exactly separates a “beam”from a “column”.

In a closed meeting with Ms. Jeanne Robbins, President of Munster Steel, she and President Obama addressed the topics of needs/requirements of structural fabrication and the challenges that the industry faces. Ms Robbins discussed theimportance of infrastructure work and its' positive affect on our economy.

“It was a tremendous honor having Mr. Obama visit Munster Steel and address ouremployees, it is a highlight for the history of our company”, added Jeanne.

(l-r) Munster Steel President Jeanne Robbins, children Allison & Jacob, PresidentObama and retired Munster Executive Ronald Robbins and Mrs. Barbara Robbins

Fred McCraw, Munster Steel’s ShopSteward, introduced President Obama.

President Obama speaking at MunsterSteel in Indiana.

Munster Thrives on Tough Jobs – Needs Machines to Match

“We provide fabricated components for demanding customers in a challenging industry,” commented Jeanne, “we will never compromise our values or reputation in the marketplace.”

“When delivery time is vital, and accuracy is paramount, we turned to the SSSL division of Peddinghaus for a drill line answer.”

“They delivered.”

Monroe Street Bridge, Chicago, Illinois


The AISC will sponsor the 2009 NASCC Steel Conference this April 1-4 in Phoenix, Arizona at thePhoenix Civic Convention Center. More than 80 technical sessions will be featured – providing theStructural Steel industry with invaluable insight. Take advantage of this opportunity to network withyour peers as well as learn about the latest industry techniques and innovations.

And in case you missed our Oktoberfest, Peddinghaus will be there displaying (3) cutting-edgemachines that will revolutionize the structural steel and heavy-plate industry.

Peddinghaus has always served as the unofficial “Tour Guide to the World of Structural SteelFabrication”. We have sponsored tours from the Middle East to UK/Ireland to all geographic areas ofthe USA. Peddinghaus always enjoys a little sightseeing along the way, and we have developed a goodknack for mixing business with pleasure.

So, what better way to kick-off this year’s NASCC show but with a Harley Tour of Arizona and the fabrication shops it holds!

Arizona Harley Tour will be March 28-31. For further details about this exciting event, contact [email protected].

NASCC SHOW – SEEING ARIZONA HARLEY STYLE

The High Speed FDB 2500• High Speed Drilling, Tapping,Countersinking, Part Marking and Thermal Cutting

• 8 tool changer travels with spindle• Drills 2250 RPM• Processes plate 3" (75 mm) Thick x 96"(2500 mm) Wide x 20' (6 meters) Long

The BDL 1250-D• High speed carbide drill line• Superior 6 point clamping system specificallydesigned for high speed carbide drilling

• Patent pending Smart Spindle II Technology• Drills 1800 RPM with Siemens spindle specific motor

• Peddi-Cool eco-friendly tool lube

The Ring of Fire• A true “All in One” machine• Utilizes thermal cutting in a sweeping 400° motion

• Cuts, bevels, splits, and creates AISCapproved bolt holes with ease

• Go from fabricating columns to detail parts – ON ONE MACHINE IN A SINGLE PASS

Get your motor running…we're heading out on the highway…

the Peddinghaus way!!



HIGH SPEED CARBIDE DRILLING AT 1800 RPMThe Peddinghaus BDL-1250/D drill line is a high speed drillingmachine like none other. With its carbide tooling, Siemens 25hp (18.5 kW) motor generating an 1800 rpm spindle speed andPeddinghaus Smart Spindle II technology, your fab shop will beproducing more tonnage in a shorter amount of time.

PATENT-PENDING SMART SPINDLE II TECHNOLOGY The second generation of Smart Spindle technology utilizesactive linear feedback while drilling. Upon sensing break-through, the BDL-1250/D instantaneously moves onto the nexthole in the pattern – eliminating the inefficient drilling of airand dramatically increasing the number of holes that can bedrilled in a given amount of time.

MINIMUM QUANTITY LUBRICATIONAutomated, through-tool cooling optimally lubricates thedrilling process which cuts down on the amount of lubricationbeing used when operating your Peddinghaus drill line. Just fillthe reservoir and the machine does the rest. Our safe “green”coolant is a nearly dry, vegetable oil based lubricant. It is envi-ronmentally friendly, requires no clean-up, leaves no residueand does not interfere with subsequent processes such aswelding, painting, etc.

BDL 1250/DHIGH SPEED CARBIDE DRILL LINE SYSTEM Designed To Process All Structural Shapes

MATERIAL PROCESSING SPECIFICATIONSINCH METRIC

Maximum Profile Width 50 in 1250 mmMinimum Profile Width 3 in 75 mmMaximum Machining Height 24 in 610 mmMaximum Work Piece Weight 43,800 max lbs 18867 max kgNumber of Drill Spindles 9Drill Spindles Per Axis 3Power Per Spindle 25 hp @ S6-40 18.5 kW @ S6-40Drill Diameter 5/16" to 2" min-max inch 8-50 mm

Contact Peddinghaus at 815-937-3800 today for more information or to set-up

a demonstration of this bottleneck-busting drill line system — sure to

increase your shop’s overall fabrication

efficiency and bottom line profits!


INCREASED CLAMPING POWERTo accommodate carbide tooling and high speed drilling, theBDL-1250/9D has the paramount clamping system in theindustry. The system is comprised of: 4 vertical hold downslocated at the entry and exit side of the machine; 50% largerinfeed roller surfaces; underside web support system that pre-vents the flexing of thinner materials; Z-tower braking system;linear rail braking systems and a web clamp system that notonly probes material, but presses the web securely against theunderside support – eliminating any possible material move-ment. All of these revolutionary material clamping elementsprevent vibration and the costly, inefficient characteristicsassociated with the breaking of carbide tooling.

ACCURATE, RELIABLE MEASURING SYSTEMThe time tested technology of Roller Measurement hasevolved to accommodate the next generation of cutting-edgeaccuracy and performance. By utilizing state-of-the-art software to program the Peddinghaus Roller MeasurementSystem, it is able to locate the truest part of the material tomeasure. By measuring from the heel of angle or channel, orthe center of a beam and square tube, the BDL-1250/9Dmeasures with greater accuracy than ever before.

BUILDING MODELING SOFTWAREPeddimat software works in conjunction with modern buildingmodeling software programs, saving you time and headache ofre-formatting materials. Simply import the beam from yourBIM software right into Peddimat and you’re ready to fabricate.

CENTRAL GREASING SYSTEMHand greasing fittings are a thing of the past with thecentral greasing system on the BDL-1250/D. Simply fill the reservoir and the machine will grease itself automatically – cutting down on costly machine downtime and maintenance.

SIEMENS SPINDLE SPECIFIC MOTORSThe backbone of carbide drilling is the power source.Peddinghaus uses the latest electronic technology to provide aspindle motor that delivers the exact rpm required for eachhole drilling application.

SIEMENS CONTROL/REMOTE DIAGNOSTICSThe Peddinghaus BDL-1250/9D proudly boasts Siemens controls and electronics. These modern masterpieces of CNCtechnology place the operator in a familiar PC atmospherewhile still providing the durability needed in your CNC control.This provides Peddinghaus’ Customer Service Technicians with the ability to remotely dial-in from anywhere in the worldto the Siemens control panel. All you need is an internet con-nection and a member of Peddinghaus’ talented service staff –and help is just a click away.

We purchased the new Carbide drill

model BDL 1250 at the Peddinghaus

Oktoberfest, and we can honestly say

this new drill line has increased our

overall production and through-put

capability by 40%.

We investigated all the other “carbide

drill lines” on the market, and I can tell

you that Peddinghaus has got it right.

They know drilling, and this machine

has everything it takes for high speed

drilling. The frame is bigger and

stronger, and multiple clamping

systems are used on the machine to

insure the drill never “chatters”.

A big concern with carbide drilling of

structural profiles is running thin web

floor beams – but Peddinghaus has a

unique underneath web support that

eliminates any possible deflection.

They effectively reduced maintenance

with an eco-friendly air mist cooling

and an automatic central lubrication

system designed into the machine.

That’s just good engineering.

The Peddinghaus Carbide drill BDL

1250 D is the fastest thing on the

planet for drilling steel: Peddinghaus

engineers nailed this one.

Bill Gallant, Production Manager and Paul Rosenthal, Vice President Novel Iron Works, Greenland, NH

“

”


GETTING TO KNOW…

John HollandVice President and General Manager of Structural Steel Systems, Ltd

To know where we are going, we must first know

where we have been. The constant drive for innovation

in the Steel Fabrication industry is driven by our

desire for superior technology. It’s hard to remember

what the Steel Fabrication market was like before

the arrival of advanced CNC technology; someone

who’s been there, and truly helped the industry

evolve is Peddinghaus’ very own JOHN J. HOLLAND.

John’s impressive industry resume lists 47 years of

experience in the Steel fabrication marketplace,

and is evidence of his position as an authority on

steel fabrication and construction today.

John remembers the “early days”, when shopslike American Bridge employed nearly 1,000workers. With today’s technologies, much fewerman hours are required to attain remarkabletonnage amounts.

What started with John selling tooling to fabricators turned into a life-long passion for the steel fabrication and metal working industry.In his early days traveling across North America(visiting many fabricators still in operationtoday) John caught the attention of Mr. JerryHilston, Senior Vice President for AmericanPeddinghaus, based in Moonachie, NJ.

Jerry helped spearhead Peddinghaus’ progress in North America, and he saw John as a tremendous asset to the future of the firm.Having worked side by side with John throughmultiple industry events, Jerry invited John tojoin the Peddinghaus team. John was a naturalin his new role – his in-depth knowledge of the industry and keen understanding of the Steel Construction market proved invaluable toAmerican Peddinghaus during its early years.

As the first official hire of AmericanPeddinghaus, John ushered in multiple trends in technology advancements that have evolvedinto the machines we use today. John witnessedautomation as it slowly progressed throughoutthe steel fabrication industry. WhenPeddinghaus introduced the very first beamdrill line John was the earliest to promote the new technology; shortly after the originalBeam Punch Lines and Anglemasters came into the picture.

“I remember the very first Drill Line ever exhibited in North America – Peddinghaus wasexhibiting it at IMTS, September of 1976. Themachine was controlled by a set of TV operatedcameras. Compared with today’s technology, it was pretty modest – but it was a start. In reality, it was the start of something completelyrevolutionary for its time.”

John has witnessed many different trends in theSteel Fabrication industry over the years. Hehelped introduce cold sawing technology, andwatched the refinement of the structural bandsaw unfold before his eyes. When Peddinghausintroduced the tandem machine concept to theindustry John was instrumental in promotingthis innovative, production oriented – yet spacesaving – technology .


The success of Peddinghaus Oktoberfest was a realfeather in John’s cap.

(L-R) John Holland, Steve Farrow and Michael Sharp –Oktoberfest 1992.

Holland was instrumental in the development of tandemand triad machine production centers.



JOHN HOLLAND

Continued from page 24

“What has been extremely gratifying for me is toplay a part in new machine tools and technologythat have truly changed the scope of steel fabri-cation at the shop level. For example, I haveworked closely with Peddinghaus engineers inthe research and design of these tools:

• The first heavy plate system for gusset, splice,base, and connection plates of all types: the Peddinghaus F-1154 Duplicator. Themachine combined material handling, CNCpunching, and parts handling into onemachine – formerly a task performed by 3 or more shop workers. It is amazing the path we traveled to arrive at the HSFDB 2500for heavy plate.

• The first automated beam coping system, usinga multi-torch approach to truly automate thelaborious task of coping and detailing beams.The Peddinghaus ABC series of machines soonbecame the standard bearer for thermal cuttingin the industry.

• Today’s new carbide technology for high speeddrilling of heavy plate and beam profiles identify a new age of productivity for the steelconstruction industry.

“I am very proud to have played a small role in the development of this industry changingequipment.”

With his eyes and ears tuned to steel fabrication,John has seen the many ways fabricators have adapted in today’s modern market. He has observed CNC equipment truly level theplaying field for the smaller fabricator andincrease efficiency across the board.

“20-30 years ago you only saw medium to largefabricators using CNC equipment. Now thereare shops with 2-3 men able to compete on proj-ects with the use of Peddinghaus equipment.”

So what does a person who’s been in the industry for nearly half a century see as thefuture of fabrication?

“The smaller fabricator will be able to producehigher tonnages for less man hours in the future.Machines like the PCD have already started thisdevelopment and the machines thatPeddinghaus is continuing to develop will onlyprogress the industry further in this direction.The combination of these machines and theevolution of effective software will play animportant role in the future.”

When you ask John what he is most proud of he answers with no hesitation: Having had the opportunity to work with the people, andcompanies that make steel fabrication such agreat industry.

“I am proudest of having the opportunity towatch Peddinghaus grow. Knowing firsthand the impact that this company has had on steelfabrication is the greatest reward. Above all the fabricators that I have done work with over the years have become close friends andcomrades that I am privileged to know."

He may mention the fact that he introduced the drill line to North America withPeddinghaus, and he might only briefly notethat along with Peddinghaus he has contributedto the evolution of tandem processing systems.One of the men who was part of the inventionof the automatic coping system has proven to be a leader in the industry and Peddinghaus is grateful to his service.

Effective this past January 1st, 2009 JohnHolland has officially retired from PeddinghausCorporation. His retirement is short-lived as heassumes new duties under Peddinghaus’ daugh-ter company: Structural Steel Systems, Ltd.

John will continue to service the steel fabricationindustry as the Vice President and GeneralManager of SSSL – providing the very sameinsight and expertise that many have been fortunate to experience.

Join us in congratulating John, and thanking him

for his unmatched dedication and service to the

steel fabrication industry.

John’s peers congratulate him on a job well done.

Peddinghaus president Michael Sharp presents John witha token of appreciation from his fellow employees.



VOLUME 29 NEWS FOR THE STRUCTURAL STEEL & PLATE FABRICATOR www.peddinghaus.com

STEEL FABRICATOR’S REVIEWWashington and Grove StreetBradley, IL 60915

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPERMIT NO. 157

Joliet, IL

The Benefits Of A Full RebuildWhen a used machine is rebuilt it is strippeddown to the bare frame and literally re-manu-factured in many ways. All gearbox assembliesare stripped and restored replacing all partsexcluding the main casting and plates.

The entire electrical panel is stripped bare andall components are replaced. A new electricalsystem with breakers rather than fuses isinstalled with all new wiring.

Full Rebuild Vs. Electrical RetrofitMany things can happen with only an electrical retrofit:• Accuracy is compromised – wear causes trouble when

new motor is holding its measurements.

• Many updates need to be added at Peddinghaus and many issues are specific to that machine.• It is nearly impossible to trouble-shoot problems.• Mixing new wiring and old wiring is not recommended – creates problem if machine ever needs

to be serviced.• There is an unpredictable amount of downtime – production comes to a halt.• There is NO warranty available.

Your machine is still an old machine if only electronics are replaced.

During the fully remanufactured process, the customer upgrades from three spindles to nine –providing a host of benefits such as:• Eliminating downtime due to tool changing• More tool options are available to owner• No more flood coolant creates less waste• Through the tool mist coolant installed

allowing for environmentally safe vegetableoil lubricant use.

A fully remanufactured machine also includes:• New Servo Motor Package• All New Hydraulics• New CNC Control• 1 year warranty – free parts/labor.

Your Machine is New Again!

Peddinghaus Can Help• Machine trade-in value will save you money.• Can remanufacture your old machine or take in

trade for an already remanufactured machine.

If you have any questions please call: 815-937-3800or visit us at www.ssslmachinery.com

Structural Steel Systems, Ltd.

Peddinghaus Machines – Fully Remanufactured To Their Original Excellence By SSSL

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

say

“I couldn’t be more satisfied with our refurbished FPB 1500. The machine has runwithout a problem since it was installed threeyears ago. Peddinghaus did a great job with this unit. When it arrived, it looked like a newpiece of equipment.

We moved three people out of part making toother areas and the turnaround time for partshas been significantly reduced. It is much easierfor us to find a person who is able and happy tooperate this equipment than people who will manually make parts.

Not only does the FPB 1500 help our throughput,it is a source of pride for all employees.”

— Glenn R. Tabolt, PESTS Steel, Inc., Schenectady, NY

Documents

Peddinghaus Steel Fabricators' Review Winter 2009