Frequently Asked Questions262 answers, one place

A millwright contractor installs, aligns, repairs and moves heavy industrial machinery. At SSI that covers rigging and setting equipment, gearbox and pump rebuilds, laser shaft alignment, fan balancing, conveyor work and roll changes, with our own machine shop and welders on the same crew.

Yes. Our in-house machine shop reverse-engineers and machines replacement parts, and our welders fabricate structural and pipe components. That keeps a rebuild moving when an OEM lead time would hold up your restart.

Yes. We service and repair all makes and models of refractory brick presses and the robotic handling systems that support them, along with casting processes, crushing and feed systems, and powder, rock, resin and explosive material handling.

Yes. Much of our work is scheduled into planned outages, shutdowns and turnarounds so it fits your production plan. Share the outage window and scope early, and we will plan crews, parts and shop work ahead so the equipment is ready to run when production restarts.

Use the request a quote form on our website, email info@southshoreindustrial.com, or call (219) 386-1506. Tell us the equipment, the make and model if you have it, what it is doing and when you need it done. Drawings, photos and nameplate data help us price the job accurately.

We serve steel, refractory, pulp and paper, food and beverage, chemical processing and power generation plants. Refractory is a specialty, including brick presses and casting processes. Our crews work on the heavy rotating equipment, hydraulics, piping and structures that these plants depend on.

Yes. Our welders fabricate and install sanitary stainless piping and equipment for food and beverage plants, with smooth, cleanable welds and back purging to protect the inside of the tube. We also build and repair stainless frames, platforms and supports for processing areas.

Yes. We maintain, repair and troubleshoot baghouses and dust collectors, including bags and cages, pulse cleaning systems, rotary airlocks, hoppers, ductwork and fans. We are a mechanical contractor, so we work alongside your environmental team, which handles permit interpretation and reporting.

Yes. We service all makes and models of refractory brick presses, including the hydraulics, molds, frames, guides and controls. When OEM parts are slow or no longer made, our machine shop can reverse-engineer and machine replacement components so the press gets back into production.

Yes. Our welders and fabricators build structural steel, platforms, guards, chutes, hoppers, frames, bases and pipe spools in our Portage shop and install them in the field. We work from your drawings, or measure and build from the existing part when drawings are not available.

Yes. We provide Allen-Bradley controls integration and troubleshoot the controls on the equipment we install, rebuild and retrofit. That lets one crew handle the mechanical work and bring the machine back up with its controls working, instead of waiting on a separate controls vendor.

Yes. Call (219) 386-1506 any time, day or night. We dispatch a field crew with welding and rigging gear from our Portage shop, diagnose on site, and fabricate replacement parts in our machine shop when OEM parts aren't available.

Make the equipment safe first. Then have the equipment type, make, model and serial number, what failed and when, what it was doing, any alarms or noises, and photos if you can take them safely. Also share the site address, gate instructions and your contractor safety requirements.

Yes. Our phone line at (219) 386-1506 is answered 24/7, including nights, weekends and holidays. If a line is down, call instead of emailing. We will ask what failed, confirm site access and safety requirements, and dispatch a field crew from our Portage shop.

Yes. South Shore Industrial is an ISNetworld member contractor and is prequalified through Avetta. Contractor-safety and procurement teams can request our safety documentation through either platform or by emailing info@southshoreindustrial.com.

South Shore Industrial is an ISNetworld member contractor and is prequalified through Avetta, so most procurement and safety teams can review our documentation on those platforms. For anything else your site requires, email info@southshoreindustrial.com and we will send what your contractor approval process needs.

Every job starts with a job hazard analysis (JHA). Our crews follow lockout/tagout, confined space, hot work and fall protection programs, and complete OSHA safety training. We also follow each customer's site rules and orientation requirements. A safe worksite is a productive worksite.

Our home base is Portage, Indiana, and most of our work is in Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland, including Valparaiso, Hammond, Gary, Chicago, Joliet, Kankakee and the Plymouth, Indiana area. We also support customers in Arkansas. Call to ask about sites outside that area.

Yes. Most of our work is in Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland, and our crews also travel to Joliet, Kankakee and the Plymouth, Indiana area. We support customers in Arkansas as well. If your plant is somewhere else, call (219) 386-1506 and we will tell you whether we can staff the job.

Our shop and office are at 5599 Old Porter Rd, Suite A, in Portage, Indiana 46368. Portage sits in the middle of Northwest Indiana's industrial corridor, which puts our crews close to the mills and plants along the lakefront and within reach of Chicagoland.

Yes. Our machine shop in Portage, Indiana supports our field crews with machined parts, repairs and reverse-engineered components. Having the shop and the field crew under one roof means a rebuild or emergency repair does not wait on a separate vendor when a part needs to be made.

Yes. Our crews combine millwrights, welders and fabricators, backed by our machine shop. That means one contractor can pull a failed component, repair or fabricate what is needed, reinstall it and align it. Fewer handoffs between contractors usually means fewer delays.

Yes. Our welders hold AWS certifications. For work that requires a specific welding procedure or qualification, share your specification with us during quoting so we can confirm the procedure and welder qualifications the job needs before work starts.

We are always interested in hearing from skilled millwrights, welders, fabricators and machinists who take safety and quality seriously. Visit our careers page to see open positions, or email info@southshoreindustrial.com with your experience and the kind of work you do best.

An industrial millwright installs, aligns, maintains, repairs and moves industrial machinery. That includes rigging and setting equipment, leveling and grouting bases, laser aligning shafts, rebuilding rotating equipment, changing rolls and installing conveyors. Millwrights are the trade plants call when heavy machinery has to be set right and kept running.

Both keep machines running, but a millwright focuses on installing, setting, aligning and moving heavy industrial machinery, often with rigging and precision measuring. Plant mechanics usually handle day-to-day repair of equipment already in place. Our crews do both kinds of work, plus fabrication and welding.

Yes. Outage and turnaround work is a big part of what we do. We walk the scope with you ahead of time, plan the crew, rigging and parts, and schedule the work to fit your outage window. Tell us the date and the scope and we will build the plan with you.

Yes. Our crews rig and set new equipment, level and shim it on its base, prepare for grout, and laser align it to OEM tolerance or your plant standard. We support start-up and leave you alignment records. We also handle installation of relocated and rebuilt equipment.

Yes. We remove and install rolls for steel and manufacturing facilities. Roll changes are planned work with heavy rigging and tight schedules, so we plan the sequence, rigging and safety steps with your team before the line comes down. That keeps the change inside the window you scheduled.

Yes. South Shore Industrial is an ISNetworld member contractor and is Avetta prequalified. Our crews have OSHA safety training, and every job starts with a job hazard analysis (JHA) and lockout/tagout. We also follow your plant's confined space, hot work and fall protection permits.

Yes. Call (219) 386-1506 any time, day or night. Tell us what is down and what has been checked, and we will tell you how fast a crew can get there. Our crews bring rigging, alignment and welding gear, and our machine shop can make parts that are not on the shelf.

Our shop is in Portage, Indiana. We send millwright crews across Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland, including Gary, Hammond, Valparaiso and Chicago, plus Joliet and Kankakee in Illinois and the Plymouth, Indiana area. We also support customers in Arkansas. Call to talk through travel for work outside the Region.

We service hydraulic and mechanical refractory brick presses of all makes and models. That includes the press itself, the mold set, the hydraulic power unit and the supporting robotic handling and stacking equipment. We also work on the crushing, feed and conveyance systems that supply the press.

Yes. Call (219) 386-1506 any time, day or night. We will ask what the press is doing, what it is making and what has already been checked. Then we tell you how fast a crew can get there and what to bring. Our machine shop can make parts that are not on the shelf.

Repair makes sense when the problem is one component and the rest of the press is sound. A rebuild makes sense when wear has spread through the hydraulics, guides and drive, and breakdowns keep coming back. We inspect the press, show you what we find and give you both options.

Yes. We repair mold boxes, liners, punches and related tooling, and we machine replacement parts in our Portage shop when originals are worn out or no longer available. Worn mold surfaces show up as dimension and density problems in the brick, so we check them on most press calls.

Yes. We service the mechanical side of robotic take-off and stacking equipment, including grippers, tracks, drives and alignment to the press and kiln car. When the problem is on the controls side, our team also handles Allen-Bradley controls integration, so one contractor can chase it from the gripper to the panel.

Yes. We have experience with powder, rock, resin and explosive material handling. On those jobs we plan hot work, dust control, isolation and cleanup with your safety team before any tools come out. Every job starts with a job hazard analysis (JHA) and lockout/tagout.

Most plants check hydraulic oil condition, filters, hoses and seals on a set schedule, along with guide wear, mold condition, lubrication and drive alignment. The right interval depends on your press, your mix and your run hours. We can build a press PM plan around your production schedule.

Our shop is in Portage, Indiana. We serve refractory and steel plants across Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland, including Joliet and Kankakee in Illinois and the Plymouth, Indiana area. We also support customers in Arkansas. Call us to talk about travel for work outside the Region.

Yes. Our crews have worked on many types of crushing systems, their feed systems and the conveyors that carry material to the press. We rebuild crushers, feeders, screens and hoppers, replace wear liners and align the drives, so the press gets a steady, consistent feed.

A rebuild includes a full teardown, cleaning, inspection and measurement of every part, replacement or machining of worn components, and reassembly to manufacturer spec or your plant standard. We then install the machine, laser align it and test it. You get a written scope before work starts and records when it is done.

It depends on the machine and the parts. Many rebuilds take 1 to 2 weeks. Parts lead times and the amount of machining are the biggest variables. If we need to machine a part instead of waiting on an OEM, that can shorten the job. We give you a timeline with the written scope.

Yes. We rebuild gearboxes, pumps, fans, presses and conveyor drives from many manufacturers. We source OEM or quality aftermarket parts, and our machine shop makes parts that are obsolete or on long lead times. We work on all makes and models of refractory presses.

Reverse engineering means measuring a worn or broken part, working out its original dimensions and fits, and machining a new one. We use it when a part is obsolete, the OEM is gone, or the lead time would keep your line down. The new part is made to fit your machine as it really is.

Often, yes, when the housing, frame or casing is sound. A rebuild reuses the expensive structure and replaces the parts that wear. It also avoids new foundations and piping changes. We tell you plainly when replacement makes more sense, and we can install new equipment too.

Yes. We provide 24/7 emergency support for urgent rebuilds and repairs. Call (219) 386-1506. We will ask what failed and what spares you have, then tell you how fast we can turn it around. Our machine shop can make parts while the rest of the job moves forward.

Yes. Every rebuilt machine that couples to a motor or driven unit gets aligned when it goes back in. We check soft foot and pipe strain first, then laser align to OEM tolerance or your plant standard and give you before-and-after readings.

Both. Smaller units usually come to our Portage shop, where the machine tools are. Large or fixed equipment, like presses and big fans, is often rebuilt in place by our field crews, with parts machined in the shop. We pick the approach that keeps your downtime shortest.

Industrial fan balancing corrects uneven mass distribution on a fan rotor so it spins smoothly. A technician measures vibration at the bearings, calculates where the heavy spot is, and adds or removes correction weight until vibration is within spec. Balanced fans put less load on bearings, shafts and structures.

Most fans can be balanced in place, in their own bearings and housing, which avoids pulling the rotor. Fans that need blade repair, a new shaft or major cleaning usually come to our Portage shop. We look at the fan first and tell you which approach makes more sense.

The usual signs are vibration that climbs over time, hot or failing bearings, material buildup on the blades, and noise. Imbalance often shows up strongest at running speed. Misalignment, looseness and worn bearings can look similar, so we check for those before we balance.

The usual causes are material building up on blades and then shedding unevenly, erosion of blades and liners, and loose or cracked parts. ID and baghouse fans see this often because of dust and moisture in the gas stream. Regular cleaning and inspection help a balance hold longer.

Yes. We rebuild fan rotors, impellers, shafts and bearings, repair blades and wear liners, and work on housings, inlets and dampers. Our machine shop makes shafts and parts that are no longer available. After a rebuild, we balance the rotor and align the drive.

Yes. Induced draft (ID) fans and baghouse fans are a big part of our fan work. They run in dusty, sometimes hot gas, so they wear and build up faster than clean-air fans. We also service the baghouse and dust collection systems they pull through.

Yes, if the drive needs it. Imbalance and misalignment both cause vibration, and fixing one while ignoring the other leaves the problem half solved. We check the coupling or belt drive on every fan job and laser align it when it is out of tolerance.

Most plants check critical fans on a regular route, often monthly or quarterly, and after any cleaning, blade repair or rebuild. Dirty-service fans like ID and baghouse fans usually need closer attention. We can build vibration checks into a preventive maintenance plan.

Laser shaft alignment is a method of lining up the centerlines of two coupled rotating shafts, such as a motor and a gearbox, using laser emitters and detectors mounted on each shaft. It measures offset and angularity far more precisely than a straightedge and is faster to set up than dial indicators.

Most critical equipment should have an alignment check every 12 months, and after any motor, coupling or bearing replacement. Machines on soft or shifting foundations, or that run hot, often need checks more often. We can build alignment checks into a preventive maintenance schedule.

Common signs are high vibration, bearings or seals that fail early, couplings that wear or run hot, oil leaks at seals, and rising energy use. If you see any of these on a coupled drive, an alignment check is one of the cheapest ways to rule out the cause.

We align motors and gearboxes, motor-to-pump drives, fans, belt and pulley drives, conveyor drives and other coupled rotating equipment. We work on all makes and models, in the field or in our Portage shop.

Yes. You get a written report with the before and after readings for each machine we align, so maintenance and reliability teams have a record for their files and the next PM cycle.

Yes. Most alignment work is scheduled into outages and turnarounds so it fits your production plan. If a machine is running rough now, call (219) 386-1506 and we will tell you how fast a crew can get there.

Both measure shaft offset and angularity. Laser systems take readings faster, handle longer spans without bracket sag, and calculate the shim and move corrections for you. Dial indicators still work well, and we use them to verify readings when the job calls for it.

Yes. If an alignment check points to worn bearings, a damaged gearbox or a failing pump, our crews rebuild it in-house and machine any parts that are no longer available, so one contractor carries the job to restart.

We fabricate structural steel such as platforms, stairs, catwalks and equipment bases, plus process and sanitary pipe, machine guards, chutes, hoppers, tanks and replacement components. Most work is built in our Portage shop and installed on site by our own field crews.

We work in carbon steel, stainless steel and aluminum, and other alloys when a job calls for them. Material choice depends on load, wear, temperature and what the piece touches. If you are not sure what a part should be made of, we will look at the application and recommend a material.

Both. Most work is fabricated in our Portage, Indiana shop, where fit-up and welding are easier to control. When a piece has to be built in place, or the space is too tight to measure accurately, our field crews fabricate and weld on site with mobile welding rigs.

Yes. We can field-measure the area or reverse-engineer a worn part, then build drawings for your approval before we cut steel. If you have prints, send them and we will quote from those. Either way, you sign off on the design before fabrication starts.

Yes. When an OEM part is discontinued or has a long lead time, we measure the original, fabricate or machine a replacement in-house, and install it. That is often the fastest way to get older presses, conveyors and process equipment running again.

Yes. Our millwright and welding crews set, weld in, bolt up and align the work on site. One contractor owning both fabrication and installation means fewer handoffs, fewer schedule gaps and fewer surprises when the piece shows up at your plant.

It depends on size, material availability and how much design work is needed. A replacement guard or bracket can turn quickly, while a platform or pipe system takes longer. We give you a schedule with the quote and plan around your outage dates.

Yes. Our phone line is answered 24/7 at (219) 386-1506. If a breakdown needs a part that is not on the shelf, we can fabricate or machine it in our Portage shop and get a field crew on site to install it and restart the equipment.

Sanitary welding is joining stainless steel tube and pipe so the inside surface stays smooth, continuous and free of crevices where product or bacteria can collect. It is usually done with orbital or manual TIG welding and a full inert-gas purge inside the tube, then inspected for weld profile and color.

Without a purge, oxygen inside the tube burns the back side of the weld. That leaves a rough, discolored surface often called sugaring, which traps product and resists cleaning and corrosion poorly. Filling the tube with argon or another inert gas protects the inside of the weld while it forms.

Both are gas tungsten arc welding. Orbital welding uses a machine that turns the torch around the tube for very consistent welds on repeated joints. Manual TIG is done by hand and suits tight spots, odd fittings and repairs. We pick the method based on the joint, access and your plant's spec.

Our welders are AWS certified. 3-A Sanitary Standards and ASME BPE are standards the food, dairy and pharmaceutical industries use for hygienic equipment and piping. When your plant specifies one of them, send us the requirements and we will build to your specification and documentation needs.

Food and beverage plants are the main users, including dairy, brewing, bottling and prepared foods. Pharmaceutical, personal care and some chemical processes use the same hygienic practices. Any line where product purity matters and the system is cleaned in place is a good candidate.

Passivation is a chemical treatment that removes free iron and helps stainless steel rebuild its protective oxide layer after fabrication. Many hygienic systems are cleaned and passivated after welding, especially where welds have heat tint. Whether your line needs it depends on your plant standard and the product.

Yes. We fabricate as much as possible in our Portage shop, then make final tie-in welds on site with the same purge and inspection practices. We work inside your sanitation, food safety and lockout rules and plan the job around production and cleaning schedules.

Yes. Poor welds, cracked fittings and old field repairs are common causes of hang-up and cleaning problems. We cut out bad sections and replace them with properly purged welds. If a whole run is in poor shape, we will tell you and quote a replacement.

Our AWS certified welders run MIG (gas metal arc), TIG (gas tungsten arc), stick (shielded metal arc) and flux-core welding. We pick the process based on the material, thickness, position, access and whether the work is in the shop or outdoors. Stick and flux-core handle most outdoor field work well.

Yes. Our crews bring mobile welding rigs to your plant for repairs, installations and tie-ins. Field welding lets us fix equipment where it sits, which is often faster than pulling a large part and hauling it to a shop. We follow your hot work permit and fire watch rules.

We weld carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum and alloy steels. Some alloys and cast parts need preheat, specific filler metals and controlled cooling to avoid cracking. We look at the material before we start and set the procedure to suit it.

Hardfacing is welding a layer of wear-resistant alloy onto a part that sees abrasion, impact or both. It is common on chutes, liners, crusher parts, buckets and screw flights. Rebuilding worn surfaces with hardfacing usually costs less than a new part and can extend service life.

Often, yes. We find the end of the crack, grind it out, prep the joint and weld it back with the right filler and heat control. Some cracks point to a design or loading problem, so we look at why it failed and may recommend reinforcement.

Every weld gets a visual inspection from our crew. When your job or spec requires nondestructive testing (NDT), such as magnetic particle, dye penetrant, ultrasonic or radiographic testing, we coordinate it with qualified inspection providers and pass along the results.

Yes. SSI uses AWS certified welders. If your job calls for a specific welding procedure or welder qualification, send it with the request so we can confirm the right people and the right procedure before the job starts, not after a weld fails inspection.

Yes. Our phone line is answered 24/7 at (219) 386-1506. Tell us what broke, the material and where it is. We will tell you how quickly a welder can get there and whether the repair makes more sense in the field or in our Portage shop.

Our Portage, Indiana machine shop makes custom parts, reverse-engineers replacements for worn or obsolete components, machines shafts and bushings, and repairs worn parts with weld build-up and re-machining. It supports our millwright and rebuild crews, so the parts we make are often installed by the same team.

Yes. We measure the original part and the parts it mates with, then build a drawing and machine a replacement. Send the worn part or bring it to the shop. If the original is badly worn, we work from the mating parts and how the assembly fits together.

Reverse engineering is measuring an existing part to recreate its dimensions, fits and material so a replacement can be made without the OEM drawing. It is common for older presses, gearboxes and process equipment where the manufacturer no longer supports the machine or lead times are long.

Often, yes. Worn bearing journals, seal areas and keyways can be built up with welding or sleeved, then machined back to size. Whether repair makes sense depends on the shaft material, how much wear there is and how the shaft is loaded. We will tell you if replacement is the better call.

Yes. We machine bushings, sleeves, spacers and wear rings to restore fits in worn assemblies. Bronze, steel and other materials are chosen to suit the load, speed and lubrication. A worn bushing is often a cheap fix for play and vibration in a pivot or shaft.

Yes. When a breakdown needs a part that is not on the shelf, our shop can machine or repair it while our field crew gets the equipment opened up and ready. Call (219) 386-1506 any time and tell us what broke and what the machine does.

No. We machine parts for plants that send us prints or worn parts directly, and we machine parts for our own rebuild, retrofit and installation work. Either way, tell us how the part is used so we can get fits and material right.

Baghouse maintenance covers inspecting and replacing filter bags and cages, keeping the pulse-jet or reverse-air cleaning system working, clearing hoppers and servicing airlocks, checking for leaks, and keeping fans, dampers and ductwork in good shape. Most plants pair daily pressure readings with scheduled outage work.

There is no single interval. Bag life depends on the dust, temperature, moisture, air-to-cloth ratio and how well the cleaning system works. Many plants replace bags on a planned schedule and between changeouts watch differential pressure and emissions readings. Rising pressure drop or visible dust usually means it's time to look.

High differential pressure usually means bags are blinded or not cleaning. Common causes are failed solenoids or diaphragm valves, low compressed air pressure, moisture in the dust cake, wrong timer settings or a hopper that has filled up. We check the cleaning system first, because it's often cheaper to fix than a full bag change.

We start with a visual inspection of bags, tubesheets, cage seating and door seals. When a leak is hard to find, we run a fluorescent powder test. The powder is fed into the dirty side, then a blacklight on the clean side shows exactly where it got through. That points us to the bag or seal to fix.

No. We are a mechanical contractor. We don't perform stack testing, hold permits or certify compliance. What we do is keep your collection system working the way your permit assumes it does, and give your environmental team written records of the inspections, repairs and parts we replaced.

Yes. We fabricate replacement elbows, duct runs, transitions, hoods and access doors in our Portage shop, then install them in the field. Worn elbows in abrasive service are one of the most common repairs. We can add wear liners or heavier plate where your dust eats through standard duct.

We handle the mechanical side: installing, replacing and inspecting the mounting of vent panels, isolation valves and related hardware to the manufacturer's instructions. The hazard analysis and the choice of protection belong to your engineering and safety team, and we work from their specification.

Yes. Most bag changeouts and internal repairs are scheduled into outages so the collector is down while production is down. If a collector is failing now and holding up the line, call (219) 386-1506 any time and we will tell you how fast a crew can get there.

It means finding and fixing the mechanical reason an environmental system isn't performing. That could be a dust collector with high pressure drop, a scrubber pump that has lost flow, a cyclone with a hole in the cone or a fume hood that no longer pulls. We trace the fault, repair it and document it.

No. We are a mechanical contractor. We don't do permitting, stack testing, emissions reporting or regulatory consulting, and we don't guarantee compliance. We work with your environmental team or consultant, keeping the equipment working the way your permit assumes and giving them written records of inspections and repairs.

We work on baghouses and cartridge collectors, wet scrubbers, cyclones, fume extraction hoods and arms, ventilation and exhaust fans, ductwork, dampers, recirculation pumps and the piping around them. We also check the sensors and controls tied to that equipment, such as pressure transmitters and flow switches.

Common causes are a worn recirculation pump, plugged spray nozzles, fouled packing or mist eliminators, low liquid level, or a fan moving less air than designed. We check liquid flow, pressure drop and fan performance first, then open the unit during an outage to inspect the internals.

Yes. Cyclones in abrasive service wear through at the inlet, the cone and the discharge. We patch and replace worn sections, install wear liners or heavier plate where it helps, and repair discharge valves and airlocks. Replacement sections can be fabricated in our Portage shop.

Yes, in general terms. We check pressure transmitters, flow and level switches, pulse timers, fan drive settings and Allen-Bradley PLC inputs and outputs tied to the system. Our controls work is covered in more detail on our controls and automation page.

Yes. You get written findings: what we measured, what we found, what we repaired or replaced, and readings after restart. Photos and parts lists can be included when you ask. Your environmental team can use that in their own records. They decide what gets reported and how.

Yes. A failed collector fan or scrubber pump can stop production or put a system out of range. Our crews carry welding and rigging gear for field repairs. Call (219) 386-1506 any time, day or night, and we will tell you how fast a crew can get there.

Call (219) 386-1506. The line is answered 24/7, nights and weekends included. Tell us what failed, where the plant is and what you are seeing. We will ask a few questions, tell you honestly when a crew can be there, and start lining up parts and equipment while the crew is on the road.

It depends on where you are, what failed and what our crews are already working on. We won't quote a response time we can't keep. When you call (219) 386-1506, we tell you when a crew can realistically be on site, and we keep you posted if that changes.

Pumps, motors, gearboxes, fans, conveyors, hydraulic systems, presses, rolls, and the structural steel and piping around them. If it rotates, lifts, conveys or holds pressure in a steel mill, refractory plant or process plant, our millwrights and welders can diagnose it and tell you what it will take. We work on all makes and models.

We make it. Our Portage machine shop can machine shafts, bushings, sleeves and couplings from the broken part, a drawing or field measurements. Our fabricators build brackets, guards, chute sections and structural pieces. We tell you up front whether a part is a permanent replacement or a temporary repair to get you to the next outage.

Yes. Our field crews carry welding equipment, and our welders are AWS certified. Typical emergency welding includes cracked frames and bases, broken brackets, chute and hopper repairs and pipe leaks. All hot work follows your plant's permit process, with a fire watch and whatever other safety steps your site requires.

SSI is an ISNetworld member contractor and Avetta prequalified, which covers the contractor prequalification many steel, chemical and power plants require. Every job starts with a job hazard analysis (JHA), and our crews follow lockout/tagout, confined space, hot work and fall protection programs. Call us to confirm what your site needs.

Lock out the equipment, keep the area clear, and have someone who saw the failure available to talk to the crew. Nameplate data, drawings, OEM part numbers and the broken parts all help. If your plant issues work or hot work permits, have the right person ready to sign so the crew can start.

No. Most of our work is planned rebuilds, alignments, fabrication, installations and outage work. That matters in an emergency, because the same crews and machine shop that handle planned jobs are the ones who respond. After the repair, we can help you set up preventive maintenance so the same failure doesn't come back.

Preventive maintenance is scheduled inspection and service done before equipment fails. It includes inspections, lubrication, alignment and balancing checks, and planned replacement of high-wear parts. The goal is to find wear while it is still cheap to fix and to make repairs on your schedule instead of the machine's.

It depends on the equipment, duty and environment. As general guidance, most plants check critical rotating equipment monthly or quarterly, align coupled drives about once a year and after any repair, and follow OEM lubrication intervals. Hot, dusty or high-load service usually needs shorter intervals. We set the schedule around your equipment history.

Preventive maintenance is done on a schedule, whether or not a problem shows. Predictive maintenance uses readings like vibration and temperature to decide when to act. Most good programs blend both. We take readings during PM visits, so trends start showing up and you can act on them before a failure.

Yes. We plan inspection routes and service around your production, and we stage larger repairs for planned outages and turnarounds. Many tasks can be done with equipment running. Work that needs lockout is grouped so you take as few short stops as possible.

Yes. After each visit you get a written report with what we inspected, the readings we took, what we fixed on the spot and what needs attention. Alignment and balancing work includes before and after readings. Reports give your maintenance and reliability teams a record for planning.

Yes. We help scope outage work, line up parts and fabricated components ahead of time, and staff the crew. Outage work often includes roll changes, rebuilds, alignment and structural repairs. Planning ahead is what keeps a shutdown from running long.

Small fixes are often handled during the visit. Bigger problems get written up with a recommendation and a timeline. Because we rebuild gearboxes and pumps, machine parts and fabricate in-house, the same contractor that found the problem can fix it.

We install presses, pumps, motors, gearboxes, fans, conveyors, mixers, material-handling systems and full production lines. That includes refractory presses and their handling equipment, mill equipment and food and process equipment. If it needs to be rigged, set, leveled and aligned, our millwrights can install it.

Grout fills the gap between the equipment base and the foundation so the machine is supported along its full length. Without it, a base can flex or rock, which causes soft foot, misalignment and vibration. Proper grouting gives the machine a stable base, so alignments hold and bearings last.

Yes. Every coupled drive we install gets a laser alignment before first start, after the base is leveled and grouted and piping is connected. Aligning at the end, once pipe strain is checked, is what makes the alignment hold. You get the before and after readings in writing.

It depends on the size of the equipment, the foundation work, access and how much tie-in is needed. A single pump may take a day. A production line can take weeks. We give you a schedule after we review the drawings and walk the site, and we plan around your production.

We plan the install around your production schedule. Foundations, fabricated supports and piping spools are prepared ahead of time, so the equipment goes in during a short window. When an install needs a shutdown, we stage everything before the plant stops so the crew can start right away.

Our crews handle the mechanical installation and can integrate Allen-Bradley controls. Electrical connection is coordinated with your electricians or your electrical contractor. We work with them on the schedule so mechanical and electrical tie-in finish together and commissioning can start.

Yes. Our shop fabricates structural supports, platforms, chutes, guards and process piping, and our field crews fit them on site. Having fabrication in-house means the small pieces that always come up during an install don't hold up the job.

Equipment retrofitting is upgrading existing equipment with new components, controls, structural changes or piping, instead of replacing the whole machine. It keeps the parts that are still sound, like frames, housings and foundations, and replaces or improves the parts that cause breakdowns or limit performance.

Often, retrofitting costs less, because you keep the frame, foundation and much of the machine, and the work fits inside a planned outage. But not always. If the frame is cracked, the design can't meet the new duty, or parts across the machine are worn out, replacement may be the better buy. We'll tell you which.

Yes. That is one of the most common reasons for a retrofit. Our Portage machine shop can make replacement parts from the worn part, old drawings or field measurements, and our crews can integrate Allen-Bradley controls on older equipment so you aren't relying on obsolete hardware.

It depends on the scope. Our case study at a steel manufacturing facility in Gary, Indiana took 3 weeks, from assessment through fabrication, on-site retrofitting and testing. Smaller retrofits can be done in a single outage. We schedule the work around your production.

Usually, yes. Parts are machined and fabricated in our shop before the equipment comes down, so on-site work is kept to a short window. Retrofits are often scheduled inside planned outages. In the Gary case study, the work was finished inside the client's schedule.

Yes. Our crews can integrate Allen-Bradley controls into older equipment as part of a retrofit. We coordinate electrical work with your electricians or electrical contractor so the mechanical and controls changes come together during the same window. That keeps the equipment down once instead of twice.

Steel mills, refractory plants, pulp and paper mills, chemical processing plants, power plants and food and beverage plants across Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland. Refractory presses and their handling systems are a specialty. We work on all makes and models, from a single drive to a full line.

The most common causes are pulleys or idlers out of square with the frame, a belt splice that isn't square, material build-up on pulleys or idlers, and off-center loading at the transfer point. Structure that has shifted or sagged also causes drift. We find the cause before adjusting, because training idlers alone often hide the real problem.

Yes. Our millwrights rig, set and level new conveyors, install the drive, pulleys and idlers, laser-align the drive, track the belt and commission the system with your team. Our shop fabricates supports, chutes and guards as needed, so the install isn't held up by small parts.

Yes. Call (219) 386-1506. Our crews handle conveyor emergencies around the clock: torn belts, failed drives, seized pulleys, broken structure. If a part isn't available, we can machine or fabricate it in our Portage shop. We'll tell you on the call when a crew can be there.

A misaligned motor-to-reducer or reducer-to-head-shaft connection puts extra load on bearings, seals and couplings every revolution. That leads to heat, vibration and early failure. Laser alignment corrects offset and angularity so the drive runs cooler and lasts longer. We align drives on every conveyor we install or rebuild.

We work on belt conveyors, roller conveyors, screw conveyors, bucket elevators and the drives, chutes and transfer points that go with them. That covers bulk material handling in steel mills and refractory plants and product conveyors in food and beverage plants. We work on all makes and models.

Yes. Our Portage shop fabricates chutes, skirting, guards, frames, stringers, supports and platforms, and machines shafts and other components. Conveyor rebuilds and component fabrication are part of our fabrication work. Building parts in-house shortens repairs when OEM lead times are long.

As general guidance, most plants walk critical conveyors daily or weekly for tracking, noise and spillage, and do a more detailed inspection of pulleys, idlers, belt condition and drives on a monthly or quarterly schedule. Heavy-duty and abrasive service needs closer attention. We can build conveyor checks into a preventive maintenance program.

A roll change is removing worn or damaged rolls from a rolling mill, paper machine or process line and installing new or reconditioned ones. It includes rigging the rolls out, handling the bearing chocks, setting the replacement rolls, securing them and checking alignment before restart. Most are done during planned outages.

Yes. Roll changes in steel facilities are part of the specialized services SSI offers. Our millwrights work in the steel mills and processing lines along the lakefront and across Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland. We work inside your plant's safety and permit rules.

Yes. Our crews change rolls on paper machines and converting lines, including rigging, removal, bearing housing work, installation and alignment. Paper machine rolls are long and easy to damage, so lift planning and handling matter as much as the installation itself.

Bearing chocks are the housings that hold the roll-neck bearings at each end of a mill roll. They locate the roll in the stand and carry the rolling load. During a roll change, chocks are removed, inspected and fitted to the new roll. Careful chock handling protects the bearings and helps the roll set correctly.

Planning and staging. Before the outage we review the scope, the lifts and the tooling, and we get rolls, chocks and rigging on site. When the line stops, the crew already knows the sequence. That is how you avoid an outage that runs long because a sling or tool wasn't ready.

Yes. A cracked roll or a failed chock bearing doesn't wait for an outage. Call (219) 386-1506 any time. We'll tell you when a crew can be there, and our Portage machine shop can machine parts like spacers, sleeves and keepers if you need them to get the line back up.

Yes. Many plants bring us in to add millwright crews during outages and turnarounds so roll changes run alongside other work. We can also handle the alignment, rebuilds and structural repairs that tend to come up in the same window.

A plant relocation includes planning the move, documenting the equipment, decommissioning and disconnecting it, rigging and loading it, coordinating transport, and reinstalling it at the new site. Reinstallation covers setting, leveling, grouting, reconnecting, laser alignment and recommissioning, so the equipment runs as well or better than before.

It depends on how much is moving, the distance, and the work needed at the new site. One machine can move in days. A full line or a plant consolidation takes longer and is usually done in phases. We build a schedule after surveying both sites and work it around your production.

We sequence the move so equipment is down for as short a time as possible. Foundations and utilities at the new site are prepared before anything moves. Lines are often moved in phases so part of the plant keeps running. Documentation before teardown speeds reinstallation.

Moving equipment disturbs everything that held it in alignment: the base, the shims, the anchor bolts and the piping. A machine set on a new foundation is never in alignment by accident. We level and grout the base, check for soft foot and pipe strain, then laser-align every coupled drive before restart.

Yes. Plant relocation and consolidation are part of our specialized services. Consolidation means moving equipment from one or more sites into one, often while both plants keep running. It takes careful sequencing, and we plan it with your production and engineering teams.

Yes. Relocations often leave equipment behind that has to come out. Our industrial demolition crews remove old equipment, foundations and structure, torch-cut what can't be unbolted, and clear the space, all under your plant's hot work and lockout/tagout rules.

Our crews work from Portage across Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland, including Joliet and Kankakee in Illinois, and we also serve customers in Arkansas. Tell us where the equipment is and where it is going, and we'll talk through what the job needs.

Selective demolition is removing specific equipment, structure or piping from a plant while the rest of the facility keeps running. It is the opposite of tearing down a building. It takes careful isolation, planned cut sequences and controlled lifts so production, people and equipment next to the work area are protected.

Every job starts with a job hazard analysis (JHA). Our crews isolate and verify energy with lockout/tagout, work under your hot work permit system with a fire watch, barricade the area, and follow confined space and fall protection programs where they apply. Cut and lift sequences are planned before the first torch is lit.

A hot work permit is a written authorization for welding, torch cutting, grinding or other spark-producing work in a specific area for a set time. It confirms that flammables are cleared or protected, fire extinguishers and a fire watch are in place, and atmospheres are tested where needed. We work inside each plant's permit process.

Equipment being removed is often still connected to electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, steam or process lines. Lockout/tagout (LOTO) isolates every energy source and verifies it is dead before anyone cuts. In demolition, it also confirms lines are drained and isolated, so a cut doesn't release pressure or product.

Yes. Our crews torch-cut frames, structure, piping and equipment into pieces that can be rigged and hauled. Cutting is done under hot work permits with a fire watch. We plan cuts so loads stay supported and pieces come down where we intend, not where gravity decides.

Yes. Many demo jobs make room for new equipment. Our crews can remove the old equipment, prepare the area, then rig, set, level, align and commission the new machine. One contractor for both halves means fewer handoffs and a tighter schedule.

Asbestos, lead paint and other hazardous materials need to be identified and handled by licensed specialists. We work alongside your abatement contractor and schedule our cutting and removal after the area is cleared. Tell us what you know about the area when you request a quote.

Yes. Allen-Bradley controls integration is one of our credentials. We troubleshoot Allen-Bradley PLC systems, check inputs and outputs, and integrate new or retrofitted equipment into existing control systems. If your plant runs another platform, call us and we will tell you straight whether it's a fit.

PLC troubleshooting means finding why a machine controlled by a programmable logic controller isn't doing what it should. We check the controller's status and faults, watch inputs and outputs while the machine cycles, and follow the signal out to the sensor, drive or device that's causing the problem.

Many controls faults have a mechanical cause. A prox switch reads wrong because a bracket bent. A drive trips because a bearing is seizing. A crew that understands both the panel and the machine finds those faster, and fixes the cause instead of just resetting the fault.

Yes, at a practical level. We diagnose drive faults, check motor and wiring, set up basic parameters, and replace drives when one has failed. For complex drive engineering or system-wide power studies, we will tell you up front and work alongside the right specialist.

Yes. When we install or retrofit a machine, we can handle the controls side too: panel work, sensor mounting and wiring, and tie-ins to your existing PLC. One contractor carrying the mechanical and controls work keeps the startup on schedule.

We do panel wiring, component replacement, terminations and modifications to existing panels, and we label what we touch. For new panels that need a listed shop build, tell us your requirements and we will talk through how to meet them.

Yes. Intermittent faults are some of the hardest to find. We start with the fault history and when it happens, then check connections, cable runs, sensors and the mechanical condition of the machine. Loose terminations and damaged cables in high-vibration areas are common causes.

Yes. If a machine is down on a fault, call (219) 386-1506 any time, day or night. We will ask what you're seeing and what the PLC is reporting, then tell you how fast a crew can get there. If the fault turns out to be mechanical, the same crew can fix that too.

Contamination is the most common cause. Dirt, water and air in the fluid wear pumps, score cylinders and stick valves. Other common causes are overheating, worn seals, incorrect relief settings and hoses past their service life. Finding which one is behind a failure keeps the new parts from failing the same way.

Slow cylinders usually mean the system isn't delivering enough flow or pressure to that cylinder. Common causes are a worn pump, a relief valve opening early, a sticking directional valve, internal bypass past the piston seals, or a restriction such as a clogged filter. Pressure and flow testing tells us which one.

Yes. We pull cylinders, replace seals, repair or replace damaged rods and glands, and machine parts in our Portage shop when replacements aren't available or have long lead times. Large press cylinders can be repaired in the field or brought into the shop depending on size and access.

Yes. Hydraulic presses are a large part of our work, especially refractory brick presses. We service all makes and models, including the pumps, valves, cylinders and power units that drive them, plus the supporting robotic handling and feed systems around the press.

Hot oil means energy is being wasted somewhere. Common causes are internal leakage in a worn pump or cylinder, a relief valve bypassing, a fouled or undersized cooler, low fluid level or the wrong fluid. Heat also breaks down fluid and seals faster, so it's worth tracking down early.

A failed pump can send debris through the whole system. After we replace it, we change filters and recommend flushing or cleaning the reservoir and lines as the situation calls for, so the new pump isn't damaged by what the old one left behind. Your fluid supplier can analyze samples if you want lab results.

Yes. Repeat leaks usually have a cause behind them: vibration loosening fittings, hoses rubbing on steel, the wrong fitting type, or pressure spikes from a valve problem. We trace the leak, fix the cause, and support or reroute lines where they're taking a beating.

Yes. If a press or machine is down on a hydraulic failure, call (219) 386-1506 any time, day or night. We will ask what you're seeing and tell you how fast a crew can get there. When a part can't be sourced quickly, our machine shop can often make it.

The most common causes are overload or shock loading, side loads the cell wasn't designed for, water getting into the cell or cable, welding current passing through the cell, and physical damage. Fixing the cause, such as a missing overload stop or bad mounting, keeps the replacement from failing the same way.

Inconsistent readings are often mechanical. Rigid piping, debris under a deck, a check rod set too tight or a damaged mount can carry part of the load around the cells. Electrical causes include a failing cell, moisture in a junction box or damaged cable. We check the mechanical side first.

Yes. We install load cells and mounts on hoppers, tanks and bins, and install platform and floor scales. We fabricate mounting brackets, stops and supports in our shop, set up flexible connections to piping, and tie the signal into your indicator or PLC.

We do functional checks after a repair, and we work alongside your calibration provider. We don't claim certified or legal-for-trade calibration. If your scale needs certification, your provider handles it, and we make sure the scale is mechanically ready so it calibrates and holds.

Yes. Welding current that passes through a load cell can damage it. When we weld on or near a weighing system, we protect the load cells, typically by grounding close to the weld and bypassing or removing the cells as the manufacturer recommends. It's a common cause of failure after other plant work.

Signs include a reading that drifts, a zero that won't hold, one corner reading differently from the rest, or no signal from the cell. Testing the cell's output and insulation, and swapping signals at the junction box, isolates whether the cell, cable or indicator is at fault.

Yes. Many batching and feed systems send weight to an Allen-Bradley PLC. We check the signal path from load cells to the indicator or weight module and into the control system, and work with your controls team on any logic changes.

Yes. Most load cell replacements and structural repairs are planned into outages, especially on large hoppers and tanks. If a scale failure is holding up production now, call (219) 386-1506 any time and we will tell you how fast a crew can get there.

A gearbox rebuild includes teardown, cleaning and inspection of every part, then replacement or machining of worn gears, bearings, shafts and seals. We restore housing fits, reassemble with correct backlash, tooth contact and bearing settings, and test the unit. When it goes back in, we laser align it to the motor and driven equipment.

It depends on the size of the gearbox and what parts it needs. Many rebuilds take 1 to 2 weeks. Gear sets with long lead times are the usual holdup. When we can machine shafts, sleeves or bushings in our own shop, that part of the job does not wait on anyone else.

Rebuild when the housing is sound and the wear is in gears, bearings, shafts and seals. Replace when the housing is cracked, the ratio no longer suits the process, or gearing cannot be sourced at a sensible cost. We inspect it, show you the findings and give you a straight recommendation.

Common signs are new noise like whining, growling or knocking, a housing or oil that runs hot, oil leaks, metal particles in the oil, and rising vibration. Repeat bearing or seal failures often point to misalignment or a worn fit. Catching these early usually means a smaller rebuild.

We rebuild industrial gearboxes and speed reducers, including parallel shaft, right-angle and shaft-mounted units, plus gear drives on conveyors, mills, mixers and presses. We work on many makes and models and source OEM or quality aftermarket parts. Our shop machines parts that are no longer available.

Yes, for many parts. Our machine shop reverse-engineers and makes shafts, sleeves, bushings, keys, spacers and covers from the worn originals. For gear sets, we source from OEM or qualified suppliers. We tell you up front which parts we will make and which we will buy.

The most common reasons are misalignment, soft foot, the wrong oil or oil level, and contamination. That is why we check the base and laser align every rebuilt gearbox on install. A rebuilt unit set on a bad base will fail the same way the old one did.

Yes. Our crews can pull the gearbox, rig it out and bring it to our Portage shop, then reinstall and align it when the rebuild is done. We serve plants across Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland, including Joliet, Kankakee and the Plymouth, Indiana area.

A pump rebuild includes teardown, cleaning and inspection, then repair or replacement of the impeller, wear rings, mechanical seal or packing, bearings and shaft. We restore running clearances, check the casing and reassemble to spec. On install we check pipe strain and laser align the pump to its motor, then test it.

It depends on the pump and the parts. Many rebuilds take 1 to 2 weeks. Impellers and seals with long lead times are the usual holdup. Our machine shop can make shafts, sleeves and wear rings, which keeps those parts off the critical path. You get a timeline with the written scope.

Rebuilding usually makes sense on larger, engineered or older pumps with a sound casing, where a new pump would mean piping and base changes. Small standard pumps are sometimes cheaper to replace. We inspect it, show you what we find and tell you plainly which way we would go.

Common signs are falling flow or pressure, seal leaks that keep returning, rising vibration or noise, a gravel-like sound from cavitation, hot bearings and a motor drawing more power for the same output. Any of these is worth a call before the pump fails outright.

Repeat seal failures usually come from shaft misalignment, pipe strain, worn bearings, shaft runout, running the pump dry or far off its design point. Replacing the seal alone won't fix those. We look for the cause during the rebuild and laser align the pump on install.

Often, yes. Light cavitation damage can sometimes be repaired, and badly damaged impellers get replaced. We also look at why it cavitated, such as suction conditions or running off the design point, because a new impeller in the same conditions will be damaged the same way.

We rebuild industrial centrifugal, process, slurry and vertical pumps used in steel, pulp and paper, chemical, power and food and beverage plants. We work on many makes and models and source OEM or quality aftermarket parts. Our shop machines parts that are obsolete or hard to get.

Yes. Our field crews pull the pump, bring it to our Portage shop, then reinstall it, check pipe strain and laser align it to the motor. We serve plants across Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland, including Joliet, Kankakee and the Plymouth, Indiana area. For emergencies, call (219) 386-1506.

We fabricate industrial platforms, stairs, ladders, catwalks, handrails, pipe racks, equipment supports, equipment bases and mezzanines. The work is built in our Portage, Indiana shop and installed in your plant by our own field crews, so one contractor handles it from measurement to final weld.

Both. We build to drawings from your engineer when you have them. For smaller access and support work, we can field-measure and draw it for your approval. When a structure needs a stamped design, we work from your engineer of record's drawings and specifications.

Yes. Most of our structural work goes into plants that are running. We plan the job around production, follow your hot work and lockout rules, and do a job hazard analysis (JHA) before work starts. Larger installs are usually scheduled into an outage.

A base that flexes or sits out of level lets the machine move. That makes alignment drift, which shows up as vibration and early bearing and seal failure. A rigid, flat fabricated base gives your motor, pump, fan or gearbox something solid to hold alignment on.

Yes. We replace corroded grating, treads, handrail and damaged members, and reinforce structures that have been overloaded or modified over the years. If a repair is not worth the money, we will tell you plainly and quote a replacement instead.

Most structural work is carbon steel shapes, plate and grating. We use galvanized or stainless material where corrosion is a concern, such as wet areas or chemical exposure. Your plant standard, if you have one, sets the material and finish.

Yes. New equipment usually needs a base, supports, access platforms or guarding. We fabricate that steel and our millwright crews set and align the equipment on it, so the steel and the machine are installed by the same team on the same schedule.

Process pipe fabrication is cutting, fitting and welding pipe, fittings and flanges into spools that carry fluids, gases or slurries through a plant. SSI builds those spools in our Portage, Indiana shop and installs them on site, including supports and tie-ins to your existing lines and equipment.

Process pipe is general-purpose carbon or stainless pipe for water, steam, air and process fluids. Sanitary pipe is polished stainless tubing with smooth welds for food and beverage service. Jacketed pipe has an outer pipe around the product line that carries steam, hot water or coolant to hold product temperature.

A pipe spool is a prefabricated section of pipe with its fittings and flanges already welded on, ready to bolt or weld into place. Building spools in the shop gives better fit-up and weld quality and cuts the time your line is open during an outage.

Yes. Our field crews set the spools, install supports and hangers, and tie in to your existing piping and equipment. Fabricating and installing with the same team means measurement or fit-up issues get solved by the people who caused them.

Yes. Send your isometrics and we will build spools from them. If there are no current drawings, we field-measure the routing and tie-in points and produce spool drawings for your approval before we cut pipe. Either way, you sign off on the routing before fabrication starts.

Our AWS certified welders follow the welding procedure your job requires, and we inspect fit-up and finished welds before spools ship. When your spec calls for nondestructive testing (NDT) or pressure testing, we coordinate it with qualified inspection providers and hand you the results.

Yes. Pipe that is forced into place or poorly supported pushes on pump and equipment nozzles. That pulls the machine out of alignment and shortens bearing and seal life. Proper fit-up, good supports and stress-free tie-ins keep pipe loads off the equipment and help it hold alignment.

Yes. We service all makes and models of refractory brick presses, both hydraulic and mechanical, along with the robotic handling systems that support them. If an original manufacturer part is no longer available or has a long lead time, our Portage machine shop can reverse-engineer and machine a replacement.

A rebuild usually covers the main cylinder and seals, hydraulic valves and pumps, the mold box and liners, punches and rams, guides and wear plates, and the fill system. We inspect, measure and document each part, then repair, machine or replace what is out of spec before testing the press under load.

The usual causes are worn mold liners, punches or guides, uneven fill from the filling carriage, or hydraulic pressure that drops off during the pressing cycle. Inconsistent raw material can also play a part. We check the mechanical and hydraulic side together so you fix the cause, not just the symptom.

Yes. We service the robotic take-off and stacking systems that move green brick from the press to kiln cars or pallets. That includes grippers and end-of-arm tooling, mounting and alignment, and the Allen-Bradley controls integration that ties the robot to the press cycle.

Yes. Our crews have worked on many different crushing systems and their feed systems, plus the conveyors, elevators and bins that move material to mixing and pressing. We rebuild drives and gearboxes, replace wear parts and laser-align motors to keep sizing and feed rates steady.

Every job starts with a job hazard analysis (JHA). Where combustible dust or reactive materials are present, we plan around them with lockout/tagout, cleanup before work, hot work permits and fire watch. We follow your plant's own procedures and permit system on top of ours.

Yes. We service baghouses and dust collectors, replace filter bags, repair and fabricate ductwork, and balance and align fans. Refractory dust is fine and abrasive, so we look closely at hoppers, airlocks, duct elbows and fan wheels, where wear shows up first.

Yes. Our phone line is answered 24/7 at (219) 386-1506. Tell us the press, what it is doing and what has already been tried. We will tell you how fast a crew can get there and what to have ready.

Yes. We support integrated mills and mini mills across Northwest Indiana and Chicagoland. Our crews handle millwright work, equipment rebuilds, laser alignment, fabrication, welding and emergency repair, and we follow each mill's safety rules, permits and contractor procedures.

Yes. We support work roll and backup roll changes in rolling mills, including chock work, bearing inspection, and the rigging and millwright labor to get rolls in and out on schedule. Planning the change before the outage is what keeps it inside the window.

We work on the auxiliary equipment around continuous casters, electric arc furnaces and basic oxygen furnaces. That includes drives, gearboxes, pumps, hydraulics, process piping, structural repairs and the dust and fume collection systems that serve them.

Yes. We rebuild gearboxes, reducers and drives in our Portage shop. When parts are obsolete or on long lead times, our machine shop reverse-engineers and machines replacements, then we reinstall and laser-align the drive on site.

Yes. Most of our mill work is scheduled into outages and turnarounds. We scope the job with your maintenance team ahead of time, stage parts and fabrication in advance, and staff the crew so the work fits your schedule.

We are an ISNetworld member contractor and Avetta prequalified. Our crews run a job hazard analysis on every job and work under lockout/tagout, confined space, hot work and fall protection programs.

Our phone line is answered 24/7 at (219) 386-1506. Our shop is in Portage, close to the lakefront mills. Call and tell us what failed, and we will tell you how fast a crew can be on site.

We provide pump and gearbox rebuilds, laser shaft alignment, process pipe fabrication, controls integration, preventive maintenance and millwright services for pulp, paper and packaging mills. We work in the field during outages and rebuild components in our Portage shop.

Yes. We tear down, inspect and measure the pump or gearbox, then replace bearings, seals and worn parts. If a part is obsolete, our machine shop can reverse-engineer and machine a replacement. We reinstall and laser-align the unit before it goes back in service.

Yes. We fabricate and install process pipe, including stainless and carbon steel lines, supports and pipe racks. Shop fabrication lets us build spools ahead of an outage, so the field work goes faster when the line comes down.

Most plants check critical drives at least once a year, and after any motor, coupling or bearing replacement. Drives that run hot or sit on shifting bases often need checks more often. Laser alignment is quick and fits well into a planned outage.

Yes. Much of our mill work is scheduled into shutdowns. We scope the job ahead of time, stage parts and fabrication, and staff the crew to fit your window. For unplanned failures, call (219) 386-1506 any time.

Yes. We do Allen-Bradley controls integration, from adding sensors and interlocks to tying equipment into an existing PLC system. Better controls make it easier to coordinate equipment and find faults faster.

Sanitary welding joins stainless steel tube and fittings with smooth, fully penetrated welds that leave no crevices inside the pipe. A back purge with inert gas protects the inside of the weld from oxidation. The result is a joint that drains, cleans properly and doesn't trap product or bacteria.

Yes. Our AWS certified welders fabricate and install sanitary stainless process piping, clean-in-place (CIP) lines, tank connections and supports. We build spools in our Portage shop where it makes sense and tie them in on site to reduce downtime.

Yes. We set, level and align new equipment, run the sanitary piping to it and tie it into the existing line. That includes tanks, pumps, conveyors and packaging equipment. We plan the work around your production and sanitation schedule.

Yes. We follow your plant's good manufacturing practice (GMP) rules, hygiene requirements and permits on top of our own safety programs. Every job starts with a job hazard analysis (JHA), and our crews keep the work area clean and contained.

Yes. We cut out bad welds and dead legs, reroute lines for better drainage, add connections and replace damaged sections. Modifications are built to the same sanitary standard as new work so the line still cleans properly.

Yes. We maintain and rebuild conveyors, gearboxes, motors and pumps, and laser-align drives to cut down on bearing and seal failures. We can build that work into a preventive maintenance schedule that fits around sanitation and production.

Yes. We fabricate and install process pipe in carbon and stainless steel, including spools, supports and tie-ins. Our AWS certified welders build spools in our Portage shop where possible, which cuts down the time crews spend working inside the unit.

Yes. We disassemble, inspect and measure the pump, replace seals, bearings and worn parts, and machine replacements when parts are obsolete. After reinstalling, we laser-align the pump to its motor to protect the new seals and bearings.

We follow your plant's permits, isolation procedures and protective equipment rules, plus our own programs. Every job starts with a job hazard analysis (JHA), and our crews work under lockout/tagout, confined space, hot work and fall protection programs.

Often, yes. A retrofit upgrades the parts that keep failing and keeps the parts that still work. That usually costs less and takes less downtime than a full replacement. We assess the equipment on site first and tell you plainly whether a retrofit makes sense.

Yes. Our phone line is answered 24/7 at (219) 386-1506. Tell us what failed and what the conditions are, and we will tell you how fast a crew can get there and what permits and access they will need.

Yes. We service and troubleshoot dust collection and environmental systems, including fans, ductwork and collectors. We can repair, rebuild or fabricate the parts that keep that equipment running and help you stay inside your permit.

We provide equipment rebuilds, pipe welding, laser alignment, fan balancing, preventive maintenance, fabrication and 24/7 emergency repair for power generation plants. Our crews work on the pumps, fans, drives, piping and auxiliary equipment around turbines and boilers.

Yes. We balance fans and blowers on site and laser-align their drives. Balancing and alignment together cut vibration, which protects bearings and couplings and helps prevent forced outages. You get a written report with the before and after readings.

Yes. We scope the work with your team ahead of time, stage parts and fabrication in our Portage shop, and staff crews to fit the outage window. Planning before the unit comes down is what keeps the restart on schedule.

Yes. We tear down, inspect and measure the unit, replace bearings, seals and worn parts, and machine replacements when parts are obsolete. We reinstall and laser-align the unit before it goes back in service.

Yes. Our AWS certified welders fabricate and repair process and utility piping and supports. Where possible, we build spools in our shop ahead of an outage so field work goes faster.

Call (219) 386-1506 any time. The line is answered 24/7. Tell us what failed and we will tell you how fast a crew can get there. Our machine shop can fabricate parts when an OEM part isn't available.