Majestic Steel Outfits New Facility With Caldwell Coil Grabs and Lifters

Aug. 9, 2023
Majestic Steel USA is in the final stages of installing material handling equipment, including custom telescopic coil grabs from The Caldwell Group Inc., at its new state-of-the-art facility in Hickman, Arkansas.

Rockford, Illinois-based manufacturer Caldwell delivered nine coil grabs, two sheet lifters, and five C-hooks, via distributor Simmers Crane Design & Services.

The coil grabs are each 60,000-lb. (27,000-kg) capacity and include a lock-out limit switch to prevent opening while the load is suspended. They also feature an anti-clamp touch plate that protects the coils as the lifter is closing, preventing damage when the legs close. The two sheet lifers have a 20,000-lb. (9,000-kg) capacity; and the C-hooks, 60,000 lb. (27,000 kg).

The fleet of material handling equipment will operate below the hook of 14, 32.5-ton capacity double girder electric overhead traveling (EOT) cranes, manufactured by OMi Crane Systems Inc. and installed by Simmers Crane. Also included in the order were parking stands to facilitate storage of the coil grabs when not in use. All overhead lifting technology is operated by remote control. The facility will be fully operational later this year.

Devon Poling, assistant branch manager/sales engineer at Simmers Crane, said: “The telescoping feature on the coil grab is ideal when handling coils in the horizontal position. The telescoping legs give the units the ability to handle a wide range of coil diameters and widths. They will be moved and used on multiple cranes throughout the facility.”

Poling added that, because of the intensive work involved and time to manufacture, projects as ambitious as this always present challenges. But all parties—Simmers Crane, Caldwell, OMi—were able to meet these demands, with all elements shipping on time.

Providing the Best Supply Chain Solutions

Majestic Steel has nine locations, including its newest facility in Hickman, Arkansas. In addition to Caldwell’s coil grabs and lifters, the site will be fully equipped with state-of-the-art processing equipment. Its footprint spans from coast-to-coast, servicing all regions across the U.S. The latest expansion will support growth in the southern part of the U.S. market.

Larry Seafler, facility supervisor at Majestic Steel, said: “We’re excited for the completion of our Arkansas facility, which will position us to provide the best supply chain solution to our current and prospective customers in a growing part of the country for construction and manufacturing.”

Majestic Steel stocks and processes prime flat-rolled steel sourced from domestic and qualified import mills. With plant locations across North America, it services a diverse customer base in construction; heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC); agriculture, transportation, and other markets. It provides partners with readily available inventory, just-in-time delivery, best-in-market product, localized service, and national reach.

The company specializes in cold rolled, galvanized, aluminized, galvalume, galvannealed, bonderized, and pre-paint steels, with a variety of processing capabilities and buying options to meet customers’ steel supply chain needs. Seafler explained that the Hickman service center will have an extensive range of capabilities.

The facility will be able to customize anything from 7 to 30 gauge material, slitting to a quarter inch, handle coils from 100 to 60,000 lb. (45 to 27,000 kg), and process flat sheets anywhere from 36 in. W x 8 to 12 ft to 72 in. W x 8, 10 or 12 ft (900 mm W x 2 to 4 m to 1,800 mm W x 2, 3 or 4 m) and more.