"The Tech Center team recently cut the ribbon and moved into the new Christopher I. Page Technical Center, part of Cleveland Steel Container's $1.4 million expansion of its 5-year-old Streetsboro facility.

Company employees decided to name the Tech Center after the company's founder and surprised him with a plaque last Christmas.

In addition to 5,000 square feet of new space for the Page Tech Center, about 10,000more square feet has been added to manufacturing for production, including a new steel coil-receiving bay.

"Tech Center is really the heart and soul of the company," said John Herrick, President. "It's a unique and valuable resource for a company our size. They keep the company running and help move us down the field in our industry."

Cleveland Steel Container relies on the Tech Center for the following core services:

Major Maintenance and Repairs: If a plant has a problem and can't handle it locally, representatives of the Tech Center will hop on a plane, if necessary, and put their skills to work to solve the problem quickly.

Machinery and Equipment: When Cleveland Steel Container needs pail-making machinery, Tech Center staff either builds a new machine or rehabs one that can be placed in service. Tech Center employees also handle the machining of spare parts that aren't available anywhere else.

CEO Chris Page and team cut the ribbon on the new Tech Center.

Product Innovation: Tech Center staff continually research and test new manufacturing processes and machinery used to improve pail-making technology and product quality.

Chris Page, Cleveland Steel Container's Chief Executive Officer who personally runs the Tech Center, said the Tech Center helps set the company apart from others in the industry. "Other pail manufacturers have maintenance workers at individual plants, but they haven't made the same commitment with a central division that offers ongoing support and ingenuity," said Page.

The Tech Center includes an elaborate machine shop, a separate area for spare parts, training space, conference facilities and CAD (Computer Aided Design) equipment. Tech Center staff only tackle Cleveland Steel Container projects; they don't perform work for other companies, although they often have been asked.

Ray Park, Vice President of Engineering and a 35-year Cleveland Steel Container veteran, said he enjoys working with the machine and electrical components, including electrical drives and welding controls. "I like to make machinery work better."

At any given moment, Tech Center employees like Park will help out with everything from designing a part to rebuilding a complete machine.

The Tech Center took shape about five years ago when Page decided to move key workers in different facilities to one location. It made sense, he said, to put them under one roof where they could work together and exchange ideas more effectively. "Everyone brings something different to the table," Page said.

Until the Tech Center became a reality, Cleveland Steel Container always turned to its "Flying Squad," a term for the people who flew out of state in many cases to remove major equipment from another company before rebuilding it for Cleveland Steel Container. Page and Park were the first members of the "Flying Squad" that continued to grow over time. "Flying Squads" were assembled whenever the need arose. Today, the Tech Center offers that level of support and more.

"It was effective. We enjoyed one another's company and got a lot of satisfaction out of it," Page said.