Since 1970, Steel King Industries has been manufacturing a full line of material handling products, including selective pallet racks, dynamic flow storage systems, cantilever racks, portable racks, and custom shipping racks, along with industrial steel containers and guard railing. Products are made using only U.S. steel. Innovation, customization, and design strength have earned Steel King the reputation as a leader in the material-handling marketplace.
May 15 - Fred Anderson and Russ Gerhard purchase Mercury Manufacturing and incorporate it as Steel King Industries, Inc. The new company begins with 5,000 square feet of manufacturing space and 9 employees in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Product lines consist of portable racks, bolted tubular pallet rack and other custom fabrications. The first sales is made to Columbia Cold Storage in Hammond, Indiana.
The King logo makes his debut.
Annual sales surpass the $1 million. Stevens Point facility is expanded to 18,000 square feet.
Production facility in Stevens Point is again doubled in size. Crown Products division formed. Primary products include trailers jacks and agricultural implements.
The Hold 'N Fold® collapsible container debuts. Product is aimed primarily at the automotive industry and typical customers include Ford Motor Company, John Deere and American Motors.
New London, Wisconsin manufacturing facility opens. Stevens Point plant is expanded once again.
New London facility converted to produce wood burning stoves and boilers.
Boltless teardrop-style pallet rack introduced. The product is a hit in the new and emerging "warehouse-style" retail industry, which includes home centers and office supply retailers.
Fred Anderson and Russ Gerhard sell Steel King to father and son Bob and Rob White. Fred stays on as President under the new ownership and Rob becomes Chairman of Steel King. The Steel King logo is introduced. The first Regional Sales Manager is hired. Steel Guard protective railing is introduced.
New manufacturing plant opens in Rome, Georgia.
Steel Guard Protective Guard Railing is marketed through Industrial Supply catalogs. By 1990, Regional Managers have been hired for the Southwest, Midwest, Central regions and East Coast states, giving the company nationwide representation.
SK2000® brand closed tube boltless pallet rack is introduced. New London facility is expanded and a tube mill is installed to aid in the manufacture of the new SK2000 product. Premier Distributor program is introduced to forge a stronger link between the company and its distributors.
New London facility is expanded again. A new powder coat paint system is installed that substantially increase the durability and rust resistance of products. Rome, GA plant is doubled in production size. Stevens Point offices are expanded ad a covered loading canopy added.
Founder, Fred Anderson retires, and owner Rob White becomes President of Steel King. Company develops its own Pallet Flow Storage. The first National Account Manager is hired to focus on large strategic customers.
Quick Ship program is introduced providing 48-hour shipping from a stocking warehouse near St. Louis. Products include SK2000 pallet rack, Steel Guard, containers and portable racks. Company introduces its own Pushback rack storage and Multi-level order picking systems.
New ERP (enterprise resource planning) software is examined and implementation is begun. The software fully integrates accounting, manufacturing and sales and marketing functions.
Jay Anderson is named President of Steel King.
Rome plant is expanded to 220,000 square feet. A powder coat paint system is installed to enhance superior durability, quality and rust resistance of the finish.
Establishment of Project Manager position to better address jobsite and scheduling issues/tasks.
Armor Guard protective railing product introduced, expanding the products offered to catalog marketers.
Steel King sells their first high-rise ASRS rack-supported building.
Steel King manufactures their first large-scale Mini-load ASRS project. Installation of tallest ASRS rack supported building in United States.
First Steel King University (SKU) event for dealer training.
Steel King is rebranded; the King symbol gets a new look, and Steel King launches new “Built to Deliver” tagline.
Steel King completes its 1.5 year-long expansion of its New London production facility, nearly doubling the size of the plant and incorporating state-of-the-art robotics.
Steel King engineers hold PE licenses in more than 30 states.
May 15 - Steel King Industries, Inc. celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Steel King Industries launches NexCaliber Structures, a product group focused on providing platform and mezzanine solutions for the material storage and handling industries, with an office in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Jay Anderson retires as Steel King President Ownership of Steel King is transferred to the third generation of the White family. Stacy Atherton is named chairwoman of Steel King, succeeding her father, Rob White.
Brian Pfannes is named President of Steel King. Steel King moves to new corporate headquarters on Coye Drive in Stevens Point. Company-wide, Steel King employs 530 team members across 14 states.
