Growing Business in Hickman!
Collaboration between Olympic Steel and Ryerson, utilizing resources at nearby facilities, secured new business and simplified the process for our customer.
Since the merger in February, Ryerson and Olympic Steel teams are working together to be more efficient and utilize best practices between the Ryerson Family of Companies. Curious what kind of successes we’re seeing? Look no further than this synergy spotlight!
HOW IT STARTED
Following the merger, Olympic Steel’s Scott Zito, Vice President, Business Development, and Dave Gea, President, Carbon Flat Roll, visited the Ryerson plant in Hickman, AR to see the facility’s temper mill and coil processing capabilities in action. Carbon demand was driving growth in Hickman, and the facility was building out a second shift for their temper mill to support increasing demand.
Shortly after their visit, Scott and David called on a national lawnmower manufacturer who they learned was buying mill direct and sending coils for processing. Hickman’s capabilities presented a perfect opportunity to meet this customer’s needs. Scott and David shared this with the customer, then connected with Matt Knight, Ryerson’s General Manager – Coil Processing, to coordinate. “The customer didn’t know we had a temper mill so close to their manufacturing facility, which was part of what drove them to consider us,” explains Matt. After learning what Hickman could do, the customer gave the team a shot!
SYNERGY SUCCESS
The Hickman Team led by Ron Harrison, Operations Manager, started with a three-coil trial. Feedback was fantastic: the customer was thrilled with the finish quality and performance of Hickman’s temper passed product.
Ron and Matt quickly planned to scale production through the addition of a second shift. The Hickman Team mobilized to set up the new customer and prepared to serve their toll processing needs. The second shift went live at the end of June.
The result was a two-year contract for Hickman to toll process 1,500 tons per month for this customer. This synergy also helped improve the customer’s manufacturing process, from laser cutting speed to paint finish quality, via the cold reduction process provided by Hickman’s temper mill, which is not available via stretch leveling from other vendors.
None of this would have been possible without collaboration between our Ryerson and Olympic Steel teams. “Matt, Ron, and the Hickman Team have been great to work with,” says Scott. Ron has established a great line of communication with the customer.” Matt has similar praise for Scott and David’s partnership: “Not once did we discuss if this was an Olympic Steel account or a Ryerson account,” he explains. “The primary focus was supporting the customer and getting the processing sales revenue.”
WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU
Does your team serve a customer that purchases their own coil and outsources its processing? Ryerson has five coil processing centers and six toll processing facilities, in addition to ten coil processing centers at Olympic Steel. From temper pass, cut to length, slitting, polishing, buffing or grinding – these resources can help the Ryerson Family of Companies grow our business and better serve our customers.
