Mezzanine manufacturer to double plant space

Steele Solutions, will nearly double the size of its manufacturing plant to meet increased demand for its mezzanines, equipment platforms, catwalks and other steel structures used in distribution centers, warehouses and other industrial, commercial and military settings.

“This addition will let us handle the expanding needs of our existing customers and offer our creative design for equipment support and storage solutions to a greater number of customers in
more markets,” said Michael Thelen, company president.

The building project gets under way this month as Steele Solutions celebrates its15th year in business under the leadership of longtime mezzanine industry professionals. We’ve grown every year since the company was founded in 1996, and growth the last two years has been especially robust, despite the recession,” said Kevin O’Neill, vice president-sales and marketing for Steele Solutions. “We attribute that growth to the unparalleled level of timely attention we give to every project and every customer, and to our expanded nationwide dealer team which shares our commitment to customer service in mezzanine systems.”

Skyline Development of Milwaukee will serve as general contractor on the construction project, which will add approximately 35,000 square feet to the building at 9909 S. 57th St. in the Franklin Business Park. When completed, Steele Solutions will have nearly 80,000 square feet of space for its main offices and manufacturing plant. The company also has sales offices in the
Cleveland and Philadelphia areas.

According to Terry Young, vice president-engineering, the expansion project will streamline incoming deliveries of raw materials and outgoing shipments of components for steel structures,
and provide additional floor space for fabrication of beams, columns and C-sections that are used in mezzanine systems and equipment platforms, along with accessories such as stairs, ladders,
rails and gates. Those efficiencies will be enhanced by new paint line equipment that will allow materials to be moved through production more quickly. This will be the fourth expansion project for Steele Solutions.

“We’ve had a consistent pattern of growth in business that has required us to expand our physical plant and offices to handle that growth,” Thelen said. “As we’ve grown, we’ve invested in technology and equipment that has helped us be more productive and enhance our already high level of quality in mezzanines and other steel structures.”

Steele Solutions enjoys a high level of repeat business, which adds to its confidence in future growth of the company, O’Neill said. The company’s first customer remains a loyal Steele Solutions partner and is still among its biggest clients for mezzanine systems and other steel structures and accessories.

Within the last year, Steele Solutions has added a national sales manager and a sales manager dedicated to the East Coast. The company also launched an updated website that was developed
as part of a rebranding process. Those changes, combined with existing sales efforts and the company’s reputation for quality and customer service, have supported the growth in business,
O’Neill said.

The expanded operations are likely to lead to hiring of up to 30 workers over the next two years, Thelen said. The company currently has 53 employees.