Bull Moose Tube Company has installed an automated packaging system supplied by Steel Storage Systems for its sprinkler pipe mill in Casa Grande, AZ. Bull Moose is a prominent manufacturer and marketer of tubular products in North America. The Casa Grande facility was opened in 2005 to serve the western United States and Mexico. It produces a full line of fire sprinkler pipe and stocks the company's broad range of structural tubing. The packaging system is designed for the full capabilities of the sprinkler pipe mill that rolls 1" to 5" diameters and in lengths from 18' to 42'. The system design was a result of collaboration between Steel Storage and Bull Moose's Chief Engineer, Tom Robinson.

The purpose of the packaging system was to eliminate manual labor and to reduce mill stoppage due to handling bottlenecks. According to Robinson, "Casa Grande has increased productivity and improved safety by implementing the packaging line." The system has also proved to be very dependable as Bull Moose runs the mill as much as three shifts a day.

The system receives pipe directly off the mill's in-line paint process. Pipe is discharged onto an Accumulating Conveyor to dry and flow to a Bundler. The Bundler forms the pipes into layers and stacks them to create a complete bundle. Both hex and square/rectangular bundle configurations are possible. Once the bundle is built, a transport shuttles it laterally to a banding station. The banded bundle is then loaded onto a Discharge Conveyor to accumulate for bulk handling. All phases of the system run continuously to keep up with the mill's maximum speed. The controls include a touch screen to select preset bundle configurations. Custom bundles can be easily programmed as well.

In addition to this installation, Steel Storage has other exit handling and packaging equipment in Bull Moose's Elkhart, IN and Trenton, GA plants.