Investing in the USA: Albion Advances Popular 310 & 410 Kingpinless Caster Series
USA-made, laser cut and upgraded three-year warranty
ALBION, Michigan – Sept. 15, 2016 – Albion, the leading heavy-duty caster brand of Colson Group USA, has made a major new advancement in its product offering, which reinforces its commitment to U.S. manufacturing. After significant capital investments in its two Michigan manufacturing plants, Albion has unveiled a series of product advancements to its already popular 310 & 410 Kingpinless Series, which leverages the new investments to deliver added customer value and create new opportunities.
Recent purchases and installations of a new laser cutter, computer numeric control (CNC) bender, multiple robotic welding cells and CNC machining equipment paved the way at their Michigan plants for a laser cut redesign of the 310 & 410 Series steel components and accessories. The products’ transition to USA-made also allows Albion to deliver and respond to the market needs faster than ever, reducing lead times by as much as 70 percent.
“Investing in U.S. manufacturing to produce the quality heavy-duty products the industry has known Albion for is an important strategic initiative at Colson Group,” said Heavy-Duty Product Director Scott Fisher. “We have an aggressive heavy-duty growth plan and we are excited to deliver the new product improvements on the USA-made 310 & 410 Series as the first step of our plans.”
The new designs and technology allowed for a variety of product improvements, including 3/8-inch thick legs on the 310 Series; weld eliminations for a cleaner part, smoother edges for safety; an industry leading zinc finish with a clear coat; and newly designed innovative brakes and toe guards – all backed by an upgraded three-year warranty. The 310 & 410 Series is constructed of high quality, heat-treated AISI 1045 laser cut steel and features a precision-machined raceway for improved ergonomics and superior strength in rugged and towed applications. The legs are fully welded inside and out to handle the shock impact and higher load capacities traditional casters might not withstand. With a large variety of 2-1/2” and 3” wide wheels, brakes and accessory options, the 310 & 410 Series offers load capacities of up to 5,400 pounds per caster, depending on the selected rig, wheel and bearing combination.
“We are committed to our initiatives to optimize our heavy-duty segment, including product portfolio and all support services. We are continuing to invest heavily in our USA heavy-duty team and manufacturing plants,” said Colson Group CEO Tom Blashill. “Through the combination of competitively manufacturing the best product close to our customers and providing world-class support, we will continue to expand our value proposition to the market and generate growth with our strategic partners.”
The new USA-made, laser cut 310 & 410 Series brochures are available online and in the new Albion catalog that will be available for shipment late this September. Multimedia files can be accessed here.
Watch the Installation of the new laser cutter machine:
About Albion
As material handling and heavy-duty experts for over 65 years, Albion’s proven mobility solutions are capable of the most challenging applications. From the largest offering of industrial casters and wheels handling over 30,000 lbs. per caster, to cutting-edge custom designs – Albion’s experience and technology ensure that every solution meets the performance and safety requirements unique to each customers’ needs. For more information, visit albioncasters.com.
About Colson Group USA
Colson Group USA is a subsidiary of Colson Group, the largest global manufacturer and supplier of caster, wheel and mobility solutions. For over 350 combined years, the drive and experience of Colson innovators have led to some of the most trusted and advanced mobility solutions in the world, including some of the most renowned brands: Colson, Albion, Shepherd, Jarvis, MedCaster, Pemco, Faultless, and Bassick. Colson Group’s products and solutions are backed by its unmatched customer service and supply chain optimization strategies. For more information, visit colsongroupusa.com.
