Steel Craft
A Unified Approach To Metal Fabrication

The concept of unity is a powerful force, demonstrating that when multiple potent elements converge, they create a whole far more significant than the sum of its parts.

Its essence can be felt in Steel Craft’s evolution, a story of how three businesses came together to forge a metal fabrication powerhouse.

Steel Craft began its journey in 1976 as a modest metal forming shop. Soon, it expanded by acquiring Hartford Finishing, one of Wisconsin’s largest powder coating contractors. The momentum continued with the acquisition of Capitol Stampings. Known for its high-precision metal stamping expertise, Capitol Stampings brought a new dimension to Steel Craft’s array of competencies.

“Our mergers weren’t about just updating brand logos or business cards,” says Kevin Stevick, president and CEO. “It was about changing how we serve in the metal fabrication industry, as a one-stop shop capable of handling a wide range of demands with expertise and efficiency.”

Today, its name is synonymous with a full spectrum of metal fabrication services and products to manage complex and large-scale projects.

Elevating Craftsmanship

Steel Craft’s approach is based on the fusion of skills and precision, as evidenced by its adept use of laser-cutting machines to produce high-quality parts of varying shapes or designs. These machines are notable for enabling maximum material utilization with minimal dross and kerf, which often reduces the need for post-processing, lowering costs. The advanced Adige LaserTube system is another valuable addition offering a fully automated cutting solution for tubes and pipes of diverse specifications into any desired configuration.

Complementing this high degree of precision, the use of numerical control (NC) punch presses broadens the capability to work on diverse projects with minute attention to detail. Metal stamping and NC brake forming techniques are the backbone of creating durable products, ensuring projects meet the highest strength and performance standards.

This versatility is further augmented by extensive welding expertise, which includes MIG, TIG, resistance and projection welding. This is accomplished through both robotic and manual welders. This breadth of skill, complemented by both vertical and horizontal machining capabilities, allows for the seamless execution of even the most intricate projects.

Meticulous attention extends to finishing touches as well. Techniques such as e-coat, liquid and powder coatings ensure the durability of its products while enhancing their aesthetic appeal. The final product becomes a blend of functionality and visual artistry, reflecting Steel Craft’s overarching mission to craft enduring legacies.

Collaborative Partners Every Step of the Way

“Until the moment a product leaves our doors, our team puts everything on the line to fully understand your needs and get the job done,” Stevick says, emphasizing its dedication to quality. Value Add/Value Engineering (VA/VE) is utilized to accomplish this.

The journey begins with a business development team initiating meaningful conversations with potential clients, setting the stage for a partnership beyond the transactional. This includes a hands-on approach of inviting clients’ senior leadership and engineering groups to tour its state-of-the-art facilities, showcasing its scalable and versatile processing capabilities.

Following this initial engagement, an RFQ is prepared for the parts or assemblies. Should a client propose a customized part, the product engineering team offers design assistance to ensure it is manufactured cost-effectively while emphasizing quality and efficiency, rather than simply focusing on the lowest-cost solution.

Success in these phases leads to more profound support for manufacturability. The continuous dialog also helps with trial runs, which are essential for identifying and addressing the manufacturing challenges specific to the client’s part or design.

As the qualification phase wraps up and production commences, client relations transition to a dedicated team of sales representatives and sales customer service professionals. They ensure continuous and efficient communication throughout the partnership, building lasting relationships based on trust, transparency and shared success.

Embedding Quality into the Development Process

From the outset, the role of Steel Craft’s quality assurance team is dynamic. It oversees the qualification runs with unmatched meticulousness. This proactive involvement is further underscored by its adherence to ISO 9001 and 14001 certifications, the adoption of environmental management best practices and a safety-first ethos across all operational facets.

The incorporation of advanced technology is crucial to enhancing efficiency and promoting sustainability. Sophisticated computer systems enable seamless real-time communication and updates to ensure an eco-friendly production process focused on reducing waste and conserving resources.

Guiding the Way with Proven Results

Various businesses have made significant strides with Steel Craft’s support. A notable example involves a client seeking to enhance production efficiency for a high-volume stamp side plate used in automation system circuit boxes. By collaborating with the client to understand their cost objectives, Steel Craft developed an automated work cell.

This innovation enabled consistent production of high-quality parts, positioning the client competitively in the market.

The project required significant interaction with numerous individuals across both organizations and a substantial capital investment to meet the desired cost benchmarks. The partnership continued, contributing to the client’s growth.

Innovation in Training through an Apprenticeship Program

Steel Craft’s success is rooted in its dedicated focus on teams addressing critical areas such as people, process, product and leadership. Over the past 18 months, these teams have successfully tackled issues like labor shortages, wage inflation and the need for increased manufacturing flexibility. This ongoing achievement is due to robust training and mentorship programs that enhance employee retention and foster skills development.

Its commitment to continuous, comprehensive training is evident in its substantial investment in in-house training programs. These programs offer trainees competitive pay and provide full perks, preparing them thoroughly for their roles and supporting them with opportunities for further training and mentorship by certified inspectors. This strategic approach has elevated skill levels and opened career paths for workers from diverse backgrounds, transforming them into skilled operators.
Forward-thinking continues beyond employee development. Whenever a new product line is integrated, technological advancements are matched with training for both operation and maintenance. This guarantees the effective use of new investments through partnerships with local trade and high schools via GPS Education Partners. This alternative high school experience equips employees with valuable skills for future careers.

Embedding lean manufacturing principles is also a crucial part of the strategy. The organization regularly holds Kaizen events and lean boot camps to promote continuous improvement and efficiency gains.

These initiatives boost operational efficiency and cultivate teamwork and collective problem-solving, which has led Steel Craft to handle projects of varying sizes and complexities, earning it high regard among large OEM customers.

Integrated workforce development, technological investment and lean manufacturing principles have laid solid groundwork for expansion. This year, the company aims to further diversify its product lineup and customer base by onboarding several large OEM customers.

In response to many of its key clients’ requests for closer operational proximity, Steel Craft is now actively exploring options to expand its locations. This strategic move, combined with a 25 percent increase in workforce and aggressive business development efforts, places the metal fabrication powerhouse in a prime position to capitalize on emerging market opportunities.