TPT September 2012

28 / 156

26 September 2012
Industry News
AGENTS
REQUIRED
Alabama branch hit
by tornado
MARMON/KEYSTONE’s Birmingham,
USA location has continued to provide its
usual high standard of customer service
despite the severe damage sustained
when an E3 tornado devastated the
service centre earlier in the year.
Marmon/Keystone is rebuilding
the 120,000ft2 service centre from
the ground up, and expects the new,
improved facility to reopen within
the next year. Plans include a steel-
reinforced concrete storm shelter.
While the new building is under
construction, a temporary work site has
been established at just 1.5 miles from
Marmon/Keystone’s property.
The tornado ripped the roof off
the office and warehouse building,
collapsed the exterior walls and tore
down two overhead cranes from the
warehouse ceiling. “Thank goodness
it occurred in the early morning hours
before anyone arrived at work, so there
were no injuries,” Marmon/Keystone
president JT “Tim” Spatafore said.
The day following the tornado,
some Birmingham employees headed
to Marmon/Keystone’s Atlanta office
to resume work, while others stayed
behind to help with the recovery
process. Marmon/Keystone also began
to ship materials to Birmingham’s
customers from other warehouses in
the region, so no major delays occurred.
All employees have now returned to
Birmingham, and 60 per cent of the
branch’s inventory has been salvaged
and relocated to the temporary site
on Pinson Valley Parkway, where
warehousing and office functions are
taking place. Product is being cut and
shipped out of the Goodrich Drive pipe
yard, which was untouched by the
tornado.
“It is amazing how dedicated our
employees have been in pulling together
so we can continue servicing our
customers despite the circumstances,”
says Birmingham branch manager Greg
Paugh. “We are so grateful to everyone
in the metals industry for their support,
especially the customers, competitors,
and suppliers who were quick to offer
their assistance.”
Marmon/Keystone is a leading
wholesale distributor of tubular products
for over 100 years and inventories more
than 15,000 sizes and grades of carbon,
alloy, stainless and aluminium tubular and
bar products. Service centers and sales
offices are located throughout North
America, with corporate headquarters in
Butler, Pennsylvania.
Marmon/Keystone – USA
Website:
Northeastern regional
sales manager
WALLOVER Oil Company, a leading
manufacturer of metalworking fluids
and industrial lubricants, has named
Erik Ross northeastern regional sales
manager.
A graduate of Glenville State College
in West Virginia, Mr Ross brings 13
years of experience in industrial sales
where he focused on lubricants and
mechanical fabrication and repair.
“We’re really excited to bring Erik
into the fold,” said Bill Pearcy, Wallover
vice-president of sales and marketing.
“With his background and his years
of experience, we think he will be a
valuable addition to our sales team.”
Wallover Oil Company – USA
Email:
Erik Ross