Blog posts tagged with 'steel bending'

We live in a very uncertain world right now, but we try to remind ourselves every day that "There is Always Something for Which to Be Thankful." We can only control what goes on in our own little circles of life and it is more important now, more than ever before, to take the time to say "Thank You" to the people who have made an impact or impression on either our personal or professional lives. We are thankful.... For our Loyal Customers: We truly appreciate your business, and we're grateful for the trust you've placed in us. We are looking forward to another strong year and continuing our joint efforts to add the functionality, beauty, and drama of curved steel to the building and manufacturing worlds! For our Outstanding Vendors: We are thankful that we have such a strong vendor base to meet, and often times exceed, all of our daily business needs. We value the relationships we have spent years building and hope that 2018 brings continued new projects and growth. For our New Customers: "Thank You" for giving us a shot to be your steel bender of choice! We hope that your experience was a positive one and that we can continue to service your steel bending needs at the highest level. We are thankful for you giving us the opportunity to show you what we can do for you. For our Employees: Our employees are part of the Albina family and so many of us have been around for decades battling through the many ups and downs of our economy. We have a very strong team in place right now and we are ready to meet the challenges ahead whatever they may be. We are thankful and grateful for their dedication to the Albina family and the time and efforts they spend servicing our many wonderful customers. We hope to have the pleasure of doing business with you for many years to come. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to serve you. [caption id="attachment_1373" align="aligncenter" width="4032"] We are Thankful for the Opportunity to participate in the Consano Organization- A non-profit crowdfunding platform for medical research. We got involved in the organization when my father, Bill ,was diagnosed with a desmoplastic melanoma, that lead to his eventual passing in 2011. Albina is grateful to the Consano Organization for all of their wonderful work![/caption]

Albina Co., Inc. is not just a structural steel bending shop! Some of our biggest customers are manufacturing companies that require bent material and repeat jobs of small parts. We recently finished a project that required some complex tube bends on our CNC draw bending equipment out of the following materials: 136 pieces of 1" OD X .065" WALL T304 S/S bent to a 2½” center-line radius. 136 pieces of Tube Steel 1" X 1" X .083" WALL T304 S/S bent to a 3½” inside radius. 68 pieces of ½" OD X .049" WALL T304 S/S bent to a ½” center-line radius. All parts were cut, bent, washed and packaged by Albina Co., Inc. for shipment. Prior to shipping all parts needed to be free of dirt, debris and oil.

Our capacities keep on expanding with the arrival of two new machines! We just received new 2" and 3-1/2 capacity draw bending machines. Rotary draw, or compression bending occurs when material is bent by rotating it around a bend die (and typically pulled or pushed over mandrel rod). A bend die is formed to fit a specific material size/type and at a specific diameter to fit the bend requirements. The material to be bent is clamped to the bend die and then is drawn, or pulled, around the bend die until the desired degree of bend is met. This method produces clean, tight radii bends and is mainly used by manufacturers or industrial companies. [caption id="attachment_1358" align="aligncenter" width="1632"] 2" Rotary Draw Bender[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1356" align="aligncenter" width="1632"] 3-1/2" Rotary Draw Bender[/caption]

I recently ordered a comforter that was to include one comforter and two pillow shams. I only received the comforter and no shams. They couldn't just send me the shams, because they were supposed to come in a set...clearly. I had to return the original comforter at my own expense and reorder. I ordered a t-shirt for my daughters cross country team. I received the shirt and the entire bottom hem was ripped and shredded. I took it to the vendor and they offered to cut off the loose strings for me and thought I was crazy for even asking for a new shirt that was actually sewn correctly. I ordered a headboard and was told it would be one week till delivery and I also asked them to email me a receipt. It took 3 weeks, 5 phone calls and not one return call to get the answer that they have no idea when the headboard will ship and that their system doesn't allow them to send receipts. All of these experiences in just one day left me questioning how our world even functions anymore? Have we just accepted that we don't get what we pay for, that below average quality is acceptable, and that customer service and on-time delivery just doesn't really matter? Well, it matters to me. Does it matter to you? Well, guess what? We are investing in you. When we make improvements to our business, we ask ourselves if it will add VALUE to our partners - YOU. Here are some examples of recent advances we have made to give you a fantastic ALBINA EXPERIENCE: Everyone says your call is important, so why do you always get VM? We value your initial phone call so much that last month we invested in and installed a new state of the art VOIP phone system to field your calls. This phone system allows us to redirect phone calls to our cell phones when necessary so calls are rarely missed. You need your quote WHEN? Our typical quote return is 48 hours. If you have a specific date that you need the response by, please list it on the request. We always strive to meet or beat the date requested, in some cases we have even returned the quote the day of the request - just let us know. Your peace of mind via Confirmation Every order that we enter to our system has a corresponding order confirmation that is emailed to you for your review and records. What's my status? With our state of the art scheduling software we are able to provide you real time status updates as requests are made. Show me... We have installed a new camera system in our shop with 2 Megapixel cameras. These cameras offer Albina management high quality images of our production process right from our desks. We both value efficiency and quality and these cameras will allow management to better service your needs by providing real time data on what phase your job is at in our shop. When will I get it? When an order is shipped, our shipping manager sends you tracking information of the shipment (when this information is available) so you know exactly where the order is once it leaves our facility. We want you TO BE PART OF THE EXPERIENCE that we provide at Albina Co., Inc. We want to be your "go to" steel bender. I guarantee you will not be disappointed and it will be AN EXPERIENCE worth having. [caption id="attachment_1337" align="aligncenter" width="3472"] Double Day Inn Gettysburg, PA.[/caption] Thought it would be fun to let you all be a part of OUR EXPERIENCE by sharing this picture and story. On our summer vacation, we returned to the exact spot on the battlefields of Gettysburg where we got engaged. Almost 20 years later, the porch remains unchanged and we were able to recreate that special event with our two kids, and our fabulous tour guide! What a cool experience! It felt so good to know that some things never change, and that what worked 20 years ago, still works today! Here's to another 20 years!

Albina has recently started making bike racks for a new customer. No matter the size or shape this customers knows that Albina will perform as promised. Albina can make racks from pipe, tubing (square / rectangular) and flat bar. The most recent project required 446 racks made out of Flat Bar 5/8" X 2½" A36. Each rack needed to be cut, bent, trimmed to length and the ends required 1,784 pcs of welded rod to act as anchor pieces. This material needed to remain rust free to avoid the process of sandblasting after fabrication and before powder coating. Albina shipped all material to our shop tarped. All material was unloaded inside our facility with overhead cranes. Once unloaded, the raw material and finished product remained in our facility until it was time to ship to the powder coater (who is located across the street from our shop). Call us if you need a custom bike rack and need a dependable supplier that will meet your every need.

We are currently seeking an experienced Yard Manager/Lead to oversee our Shipping Department. Job duties include supervision & coordination of yard workers, organization of yard & storage areas to maximize efficiency & flow, the safe loading & unloading of flatbeds & LTL trucks. Qualified candidates will have 3+ years’ experience as a Yard Manger or Lead Material Handler. At Albina Co. we have mastered the art of steel bending, steel rolling and steel fabrication. We curve structural steel members, various sizes of round pipe and HSS material, and plate. We are a small family owned business servicing the steel industry since 1939 and we provide quality products and services that stand out from the competition. We are located in Tualatin and are able to service the entire United States and Canada from our single location! Job Description Responsible for coordination of shipping and receiving matters. Supervise loading crew and drivers. Determine work procedures, prepare work schedules and expedite material & traffic flow to optimize production efficiency. Perform inventory counts on raw material & component parts. Load, unload & check-in material and supplies with use of industrial equipment following company policies & procedures. Skill Requirements Working knowledge of Microsoft suite software products Ability to follow written and oral instructions regarding daily functions Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other employees. Expert knowledge of material flow & effective material management Ability to drive a forklift. Both standard & extended reach Ability to handle & stack material in a safe manner Familiar with crane & sling capacity Experienced using proper lifting techniques using slings, clamps & other lifting devices Extensive knowledge of pipe, tube, structural steel & component part Physical Requirements Must be able to lift 50 lbs. occasionally & 35 lbs. repeatedly Must be able to stand/walk 8-10 hours a day May be exposed to excessive noise, welding gases and fumes, and inclement weather conditions. This is a Union position. Successful applicants must be able to pass a drug test Compensation: Wage: DOE Pension Plan & 401k Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance Vacation & PTO Favorable work schedule

I would like to share a recent email that I received from a customer in response to my recent blog post titled "If You Are Persistent, You May Get It. If You Are Consistent, You Will Keep It." "Good morning. First I’d like to thank you for your recent support. I know a company’s attitude comes from the top. You have a great group of “how can we make it work” people. It’s unfortunate that there is so much road between our office and yours. I’d be glad to share a glass of wine with you. The point of your news letter is well taken. The only things I’d add is that your steel bending estimators are always available to help and frankly guide fabricators as to the best wall thickness, etc, to meet the challenges and provide the best curved steel finished product. This gives us the opportunity to include the cost of forming and shipping in the bid at the start. The other thing is pretty simple. It’s not a question of can I afford Albina Co., it’s can I afford not to?"

STEADY & STABLE I can't tell you how many times I have had a customer tell me that they are going to have to pull business from us because they found a lower price supplier, that they are new to the steel industry and want to give someone else a try, that another supplier promised them a better delivery schedule or better quality. Whatever the reason, I always justify my price and schedule to the customer and then I tell them "We appreciate your business and our relationship, and we will be here for you when you need us." The key word here is "when", not "if." I never have to justify the quality of our products or service, as both speak for themselves, and I can say with certainty that is not why we ever loose an account. A few weeks will go by, and guess what? I get a phone call that the new supplier can't meet the delivery schedule, or that the product fails in comparison to what we were providing them, or they are going to go over budget for having to repurchase material and incur additional labor costs. And my response again is "We are here for you. What do you need?" Anyone can be persistent and promise you a better price, product or schedule to get your business, but can they be consistent and keep your business? Albina Co., is consistent, steady and stable. We have an extremely loyal customer base, and in the rare occasion that someone leaves, we almost undoubtedly always see them return. [caption id="attachment_1285" align="aligncenter" width="1224"] Brian and Jaime love to explore the many amazing restaurants in the Greater Portland Metro area. They are foodies and love a good brunch or happy hour menu! This picture was taken at one of their favorite restaurants "Meriwether's." If you are in town, give us a call! We would love to introduce you to all the wonderful eats in PDX. [/caption]

If you just take the time to really study your surroundings when you are out on your next summer adventure, you might just see some great examples of curved steel applications. Albina Co., Inc. specializes in helping fabricators create architecturally appealing signs for commercial, recreational, and transportation applications. Some projects include structural steel entry-ways and signage for state parks, zoos and campgrounds. Other applications include signage for public transportation stations, recreational facilities and commercial buildings. Below are a few projects we have done over the years so keep your eyes peeled on your next adventure to see if you can spot some curved steel! Curt Gowdy State Park is in Cheyenne, Wyoming at the foothills of the Laramie Mountains. Happy Hollow Zoo is a small 16-acre zoo and amusement park in San Jose, California. Buffalo Bill Cody Stampede Park & Rodeo located in Cody, Wyoming. Centennial Center Park Platform and Amphitheater in Centennial, Colorado.

Albina Co., Inc. started out as family business in 1939. Brian's grandfather (John) and father (Bill) both served in CEO and Presidential roles before Brian took over in 1998. Brian has worked in all aspects of the business from helping in the shop as a teenager, to managing the Accounting Department straight out of college, to the role of President and CEO which he has maintained for nearly 20 years. Brian's wife, Jaime, serves as the Marketing and Advertising Manager. Together, Brian and Jaime created the business plan required for the move to their current facility in 2000 and have worked side-by-side for the last 17 years to grow Albina into one of the most well-known and highly regarded steel bending companies in the country. Every month, Brian and Jaime will share their thoughts on the importance of family in business. June 2017- LOYALTY Loyalty is defined as faithfulness to commitments or obligations. We pledge loyalty when we get married, when our kids are born,when we are part of team, when we work as a collective unit and when we form personal and professional relationships. Loyalty is showing complete and constant support. Being part of a family business means that we take care of our "Albina Family", we honor our commitments to employees, vendors and customers and we stand by the relationships that we have built on trust, over the many decades our family has been in business. Brian and Jaime are huge Blazer fans and love the game of basketball. Both played at Lake Oswego High School and Jaime went on to play Division I at the University of Minnesota. Both of their children play and they love spending time together as a family both playing and watching various levels of hoops. Go Blazers!