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When will steel supply be normal again?
The past 24 months have been more volatile than any I’ve known in my 35+ years in the steel stockholding market.
I wrote some time ago about the perfect storm, this seems an age away yet there is no more calm than back then.
Good news however, despite all the changes High Peak Steels have continued our focus, to be constant for customers and determined to maintain high levels of service, as well as a broad range of engineering steels, both black and bright bar.
We’re committed to filling our expanded new facility with steel stock available for you, as part of our service of available stock ‘as normal’.
New warehouse to support growth
One area High Peak Steels have always committed to is a deep level of steel stock availability, often at short notice, for customers. Enough warehousing for a smooth operation is essential.
Last Year Josh Thornley & Nick Willet led the re-design of the warehouse workflow and racking system; for our main warehouse & processing facility. This has enabled a significant improvement to workflow and increased output. Josh commented…
There are some more unusual steel grades, we may have a lower level of, but staying close to our customers, using the forecast needs tool, all help to ensure we’re keeping you supplied with what you need, when you need it over 98% of the time and in full – OTIF.
Growth adds pressure on this value we hold dear – to keep levels of stock for customers. In response we made the decision earlier in the year to bring some of our stock at ports, closer to the main processing head office. This week we have taken delivery of the keys to a new 20,000 square feet of warehousing which in stock terms this enables us to make available 3000 tonnes of additional engineering steel stock. So as increased demand means more stock on site is required, to meet our commitment, to delivery times we have a firm strategy now in place.
Wagon fleet expansion
Along with more stock comes the demand to ensure there is a big enough fleet to deliver. We have always maintained our own fleet rather than relying on third party transportation for the day-to-day operations.
Leigh Williams comments,
Steel stock depth
The additional 3000 tonnes of engineering steel stock we have available, for immediate order and delivery, adds to our commitment that High Peak Steels offer a market leading service.
You will have heard or read of the woes of Aartee Bright Bar Ltd and their volatility, with talk first of Liberty Steel again going down an acquisition route at a time when just a few months earlier they were asking the Government to help due to rising costs. Liberty Steel then made 100’s redundant.
At a time when the market price, supply of steel and transportation are a challenge, it requires Steel Stockholder suppliers to offer stability to customers, this is one element we can help you avoid. Building a long-term plan, cautious investment and ensuring a stable financial base are areas High Peak Steels have focused on – this offers customers a certainty, rather than a here today, gone tomorrow approach – this stability is vital for you, our customers. I would not usually comment on the actions of others in the market, however, there is a time to speak when this threatens the future for engineering in our sector, so I make these statements to assure and promise that we are here for the long term for our customers.
New service hub tech
Technology is moving fast and so must we. It was not long ago that many of our customers mostly used faxes, when everyone else had already stopped!
Mostly this has gone as email has taken over. Some years ago, we invested in an advanced quotation system and over the past few months we have been specifying a new customer management system. This will bring lots more information for our sales team to support you with.
Liam Wright, Sales Manager commented,
Linking IT from current steel software program via API’s to HubSpot, our IT providers are helping real time information to be available for customers. All customer information complies with GDPR regulations and system security – we’ll keep you posted when we are live.
New people
Most important are our people, without their dedication and commitment to service, none of what we do for our customers would be possible.
There are countless times when I see members of our team going the extra mile for a customer; even putting a small delivery in a car to deliver on an evening when something was urgent – this partnership with our customers is something that has grown, from a culture of support within.
This year we’ve recruited additional warehouse operatives, a new member to the sales team and we’re in the process of recruiting 2 more wagon drivers and an additional warehouse operative to coordinate the additional facility.
