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Metals, Steel & Pipe Industry
moving metals, meeting challenges
The steel industry is known for being cyclical and responds to market conditions— just as demand increases during economic booms, it plummets during recessions. Consequently, there is constant pressure to find better ways to gain a competitive advantage in the market.
Find that advantage and the steel industry holds abundant promising prospects for growth and profit.
Metals Industry CHALLENGES & SOLUTIONS
TOUGH ENVIRONMENTS
From extreme heat in metal foundries to abrasive dust at metal recycling facilities, these harsh environments can push your materials handling equipment and operators to their limit.
How are you going to optimize uptime?
- Beat the heat with truck features designed to help protect the operator and truck components
- Maximize productivity with lift trucks that provide high performance and low maintenance costs
- Configure your equipment to defend against dust and debris
LOAD VARIATION
Semi-finished or finished metal products vary significantly in type, shape, size and weight, presenting significant load handling challenges.
How are you going to handle challenging loads while minimizing damage?
- Deploy high-capacity lift trucks that offer flexibility to handle varied load sizes
- Cater to the characteristics of your metal loads with specialized attachments
- Reduce damage by using equipment with advanced visibility and optimized hydraulics for smooth load handling
LIMITED CAPITAL BUDGETS
Limited capital for new equipment can affect all aspects of your operation and your ability to meet the needs of your customers.
How can you better manage tight capital budgets?
- Right-size your lift truck fleet with a fleet management plan
- Establish an appropriate maintenance plan to help extend useful life of your equipment
- Evaluate leasing programs for lift truck acquisition needs
- Keep energy costs in check by choosing the right forklift power solution for your operation
LABOR RETENTION
Even the most successful companies struggle with recruiting and retaining qualified talent in a tough working environment.
How are you going to reduce turnover?
- Offer advanced ergonomic lift truck solutions to help enhance operator comfort and reduce turnover
- Implement continuous training and development programs to keep your team engaged
- Optimize visibility to minimize downtime and keep your workforce productive
SUSTAINABILITY
You face the challenge of meeting strong demand for quality metal products while minimizing adverse effects on the environment and human health.
How are you going to minimize the impact?
- Develop a recycling plan for by-products of your operation
- Embrace alternative power sources in your lift truck equipment
- Keep internal combustion engine (ICE) emissions in check using forklifts that meet or exceed EPA requirements and offer high fuel efficiency
SAFETY
Working in steel and metal can be a dangerous occupation.
How can you help keep your employees safe and reduce incidents?
- Use telematics to track lift truck access and provide training updates
- Deploy the right equipment to handle variable loads and capacity
- Consider advanced operator awareness and stability systems to help minimize risk and damage
- Prioritize operator performance and comfort with equipment that provides excellent all-around visibility
take control with game changing solutions
ROBOTIC WELDERS
Robotic weld cells provide a consistent and high-quality weld with greater precision that super-charges your productivity and throughput.
HOISTS & CRANES
Overhead hoists and cranes can be used to efficiently and safely move large sheets of metal, especially when near other workers or equipment.
MULTI-DIRECTIONAL TRUCKS
Heavy-duty CombiLift forklifts are ideal for handling long, bulky loads of steel in narrow aisle operations.
I.C.E. PNEUMATIC TIRE FORK TRUCK
Start with a singular base configuration, then add only what you need to best suit your operational needs — no more, no less. By designing a completely unique forklift, you get the comfort and performance you desire, plus the cost benefit of only paying for what your operators and operation need in order to perform optimally.
I.C.E. CUSHION TIRE FORK TRUCK
A versatile lift truck designed for indoor use, this truck is ideally suited for a wide variety of applications such as industrial and commercial machinery, fabricated metal products and motor freight transportation.
HYSTER BIG TRUCKS
Hyster® heavy duty forklift trucks are the ultimate tough trucks for the most demanding areas of your operation. These internal combustion high capacity lift trucks offer lifting capacities from 19,000-105,000 pounds. Hyster heavy duty forklifts can be used in many industries and applications from lumber yards to ports, shipyards, concrete plants and steel mills.
Support You Can Count On
Need help picking the right solution for your business? Give us a call to get started.
News & Announcements
Riekes Equipment, a recognized leader in the material handling industry, has been awarded the prestigious MVP (Most Valuable Partner) Award for its outstanding achievements in 2023 by their industry trade…
Read MoreHyster has unveiled two new lithium-ion battery-powered forklifts, the three-wheel J32-40UTTL and four-wheel J30-70UTL. The UTTL is available in capacity ranges of 3,200 lb. (1.5 T) to 4,000 lb (1.8…
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