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DECEMBER 2021 l The Wholesaler l PHCPpros.com
BY KRYSTAL HATFIELD
WHILE MOST
oil country tubular goods, mechanical tube and sched- ule pipe can be satised through direct mill orders, more unexpected project needs are surfacing with high urgency and extremely quick lead times. PVF Roundtable member Corrosion Resistant Alloys (CRA) has developed solutions to nonstandard situations to meet these demands. CRA oers expedited delivery times, custom sizes, specications, lengths and small production runs, as well as access to a global market inventory so that you get what you need - when you need it. Customization, exibility and in- novation have proven to be CRAs spe- cialty as a reliable source for special projects. Founded 20 years ago as a purely distribution entity, CRA transi- tioned into a manufacturer/distributor rm. Through several industry cycles, its management realized the real struggle of operators: to predict the fu- ture and plan for exactly what they will need in long lead time mill cycles. This drove CRA to adopt a just- in-time mill model to improve upon the ineiciencies of distribution and complement the standard mill de- liveries when projects are met with nonstandard situations, says Justin Kates, strategic business develop- ment at Corrosion Resistant Alloys. Were now exploring industries out- side of oil and gas where our model can provide value. Kates added, Were currently seeing a trend in the alloy pipe and tube market where small changes in demand are causing increasing im- pacts from one end of a supply chain to the other, resulting in unexpected gaps in supply. Forecasting, control- ling inventory and production sched- ules are all at risk of a disruption - CRA can prevent this by helping customers meet project demands. Distributor inventory uctuates between excessive supply and mate- rial shortages based on industry cy- cles, often leaving customers unable to obtain what they want when they want it. CRAs job-shop mill provides project exibility as a reliable source. The need for customization and exibility in the alloy pipe and tube space is growing. To support this business in all industries using high- alloy tubulars, CRA is expanding its capacity and capabilities. Since 2008, CRA acquired two of the worlds larg- est cold nishing mills, a third smaller mill, and numerous additional pieces of manufacturing equipment. In 2021, CRA purchased property in Brenham, Texas (just outside of Houston), with plans to build a facil- ity that will signicantly enhance its manufacturing capacity, capabilities and increase speed by consolidating many processes under one roof. And just what does CRA enjoy most about being a PVF Roundtable member? Kates proudly states: The networking is tremendous, the industry pulse is felt, and the op- portunity to expand my knowledge is great. All this while being able to support the future of the industry. Visit www.cralloys.com for a com- plete list of products and services or meet the CRA team at the next PVF Roundtable Networking Meeting at The Bell Tower on 34th in Houston. Register at www.pvfroundtable.org.
Corrosion Resistant Alloys and New Markets Finding Warehouse Storage Solutions with FEHR
Corrosion Resistant Alloys' job-shop mill provides project exibility as a reliable source during industry cycles of supply and demand.
Photo credit: Corrosion Resistant Alloys
BY ERIC WEIMAR
THIS MONTH,
the PVF Roundtable sat down with David Veldung, president of FEHR Warehouse So- lutions. Originally started in Switzerland, the com- panys U.S. operations are based in Charlotte, N.C. Hans Fehr founded the rm as an engineering oice in 1949; in only a few decades, the company developed into a strong brand for sophisticated warehousing logistics with Swiss precision. Having sales oices all over the world, Fehr has become more in- novative and the market leader in many elds of warehousing logistics, Veldung notes. We are denitely the right contact for almost every line of industry. Specializing in warehousing logistics through automation right down to special tasks, he adds, Developing warehouse solutions in high bay warehouse space is the key to our many successes. Our team ensures a smooth move- ment of materials - irrespective of whether this concerns the transport of stainless steel, aluminum, quality steel, plastic or even wood. FEHRs adaptable storage systems maximize the use of space available. We look at the needs of every one of our customers and then design our warehouse system for a win/win, Veldung explains. So how is business for FEHR in this current market, having such a unique product? At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, our cus- tomers put a hold on all larger capex projects, Veldung says. However, the pandemic brought a large push into automation. Steel service cen- ters and manufacturers realized they can save an entire shift with one of our systems. Based on current market predictions, FEHR is very optimistic on what the future will bring. The United States is still behind Europe as far as automation, but the outlook for 2022 and beyond appears to be quite exceptional and in FEHRs favor, he notes. As a new member of the PVF Roundtable, what does he perceive is the added value of membership? The oil and gas market in Houston is an important market with FEHRs tube suppliers, as well as steel service cen- ters, Veldung notes. Our rst system in the United States was bought by a company headquartered in Houston. I feel I will get inside information about the oil and gas market and see trends early on. For more information on FEHR Warehouse Solutions, visit www.fehr-usa.com. If your company is interested in becoming a mem- ber of the PVF Roundtable, simply log on to www.pvfroundtable.org.
David Veldung The Honeycomb warehousing system allows for large quantities of material and high-speed access.
Photos: FEHR Warehouse Solutions
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