Steel service center has nominal downtime with Konecranes Service

Founded in 1914, Chicago Tube and Iron is one of the largest steel service centers in the United States, with 10 subsidiaries throughout the Midwest United States.

A lifetime ago

Our relationship with Chicago Tube and Iron took root even before we started working together. Our main contact at Chicago Tube and Iron is a former supervisor at another tube mill, where we worked for years. “They had a huge plant, with nearly 400 overhead and workstation crane units,” explained David Doran, Konecranes service sales representative.

At this tube mill, we had used our MAINMAN inspection program, which systematically recommends priority repairs based on safety and production needs—with the goal of eliminating breakdowns all together. “When the repairs recommended after the inspection are performed, overhead cranes can reach an optimal level of performance. In only a few years, that is exactly what happened at this Tube mill,” said Doran.

Before we serviced Chicago Tube and Iron’s Indianapolis’ overhead cranes, the facility encountered downtime delays that were not acceptable for their 24-hour operation. Now that we're servicing their cranes, downtime for the year has been nominal— affecting less than one working shift.

Up and running

When the plant manager transitioned into a job at Chicago Tube and Iron, he brought us with him. We determined his most used and critical crane and performed every repair and recommended a CARE Preventive/Predictive Maintenance program. “Now all four of the overhead cranes are performing safely and are reliable,” said Doran.

“This is critical for us, because we understand and are sensitive to the importance of keeping our 24-hour operation running.”

Learn more about our crane service programs