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Soule News
VOLUME 2 NUMBER 2 FEBRUARY, 1964
FIRST IN THE WEST! # Soule Installs New Continuous Casting Unit
The West's first Continuous Casting Unit will be installed by Soule Steel Company at the Long Beach Mill, with initial operation scheduled for July, 1964, it was announced today by Lee Soule, President.
The process, developed and licensed by Concast, Inc., of New York and Switzerland, has been hailed by steel-makers throughout the world as a "revolutionary step forward" in upgrading the quality and yield in steelmaking processes through the elimination of several outmoded and wasteful processing steps.
The unit is called the Concast "Curved Mold Type" Low Profile Casting Machine. The machine will cast continuously two strands of 5" x 5" billets which can be cut to any length.
Mr. Soule states: "This installation of the Concast unit at our Long Beach Mill, will permit us to produce a full range of reinforcing bars. These will include the largest sizes #14 and #18 bar (1-1/2"—2" sq.) cast to any length to meet our customer's requirements and further improve our service."
UNIFORM QUALITY
The new continuous casting process, according to Mr. Soule, "will improve the quality of our regular steels and will insure the finest possible uniform quality in the new high strength steels needed for today's and future building requirements."
"Piping," a void created in an ingot cast in conventional cast Iron Molds as the molten metal shrinks during solidification, will virtually be eliminated in the continuous casting process. Pipe has always been a problem to steel makers until continuous casting became practical. In the continuous casting process as shrinkage takes place molten metal fills the void thus eliminating "pipe."
Soule is also installing a new modern spectrograph to maintain close control of the important chemical elements used in the making of steel. This added control, together with the positive identification of the size and grade of steel rolled into all bars, will provide further assurance of Soule's uniform high quality standards.
CURVED MOLDS
The Continuous Casting process will eliminate pouring the molten steel into individual moulds, thus saving considerable labor and waste-materials. Through the continuous casting method, steel is poured directly into two curved moulds by means of a stoppered or tilting ladle. Inside the mould the outer surface of the steel solidifies, then passes through the secondary cooling zone where it is sprayed with water to complete the solidification.
Pinch rolls withdraw the strands at a controlled speed in keeping with the flow of liquid steel into the mould. The strands are cast in a curved path then straightened to discharge horizontally for cutting to the required lengths.
BETTER YIELD
According to C. C. "Bud" Williamson, Vice President of Production, "continuous casting will enable Soule to have a much better yield of hot metal in relation to the finished product."
By "Continuous Casting," Soule will not only increase yield, but will also be able to produce longer bar, up to 360 feet in length as compared to the present 120 feet. The process will eliminate extra handling, trimming, pouring, and should also produce rebar at a faster rate than present methods.
President Lee Soule states: "We feel that Soule is taking another important step forward to maintain our position as the outstanding reinforcing mill-fabricator-placer in the Western United States."
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From the President
People In The News . . .
Vanderhurst Knox Johnson Thompson Wipson Rumrey Evans Neverovich Colombo
"Leading The Way"
We are pleased to make the announcement on the front page of this newsletter that the Soulé Steel Company will soon place into operation a continuous steel casting unit. As employees, we want you to be the first to know of changes affecting your Company.
This new process is the first such installation in the Western United States. It will enable our Company to produce finer products, assure uniform high quality and compete in the market of the future. It will mean that through your cooperation and effort there will be better opportunities for each employee to grow and advance.
The Company's tradition of leading the way as the West's leading producer and fabricator of reinforcing steel is entirely in keeping with the pioneering spirit of our Founder, Edw. L. Soulé. Your management is trying to maintain the same pioneering spirit, to continue to make this Company the strongest, most aggressive and successful company in our industry.
Edward Lee Soulé, Jr.
Wm. L. "Bill" Vanderhurst has been named chief estimator - field placing for the Reinforcing Steel Division.
Harold E. Knox has become estimating supervisor for district #1 of the Reinforcing Steel Division in San Francisco.
Arnt C. Johnson has joined the Architectural Products Division sales staff in Los Angeles. Arnt formerly was an architectural aluminum salesman in the Chicago area.
Robert S. "Bob" Thompson has been named regional manager for the northwest region of the Steel Structures Division. Bob formerly was district manager in Seattle.
Dale Wipson, chief design engineer for the Steel Structures Division, was honored as "Citizen of the Day" on January 3rd by San Francisco radio station KABL.
Howard Rumrey recently was appointed manager of the Steel Structures Division's newly formed Commercial Sales Department.
W. J. "Bill" Evans has become sales supervisor - Los Angeles sales, for the Steel Structures Division's southwest region.
Walter J. "Walt" Neverovich is district manager for the Steel Structures Division's recently established Foreign Trade Department.
A. L. "Al" Colombo has been appointed to the newly-created position of contracts manager in the Steel Structures Division.
Boy Scouts Honor Lee Soule
On the evening of January 22nd, President Lee Soulé was presented with the Silver Beaver Award by the San Francisco Council of the Boy Scouts of America at its annual dinner meeting. This is the highest scouting honor which can be given to an individual for local council service.
Long active in scouting, Lee Soulé was instrumental in organizing Embarcadero District Troop and Explorer Post Number 159, which are sponsored by Soulé Steel
Company and meet at the San Francisco Plant. Since their formation in May, 1957, the troop and post have received many honors, and this summer will be represented by Scoutmaster Chuck Mekeel and several boys at the Boy Scout National Jamboree at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania (see Soulé News, November, 1963).
Our congratulations to Lee Soulé on a well deserved honor.
Most Company Service?
San Francisco has laid claim to the honor of having the employee with the most years of Company service. Naturally they can win hands down by pointing to Edward L. Soulé, Board Chairman, who founded the Company in 1911. But, Mr. Soulé is not the man they mean.
Roy Fisher went to work for the U. S. Metal Products Company in 1920, at the age of 15. Ten years later, U. S. Metal
Products became a part of Soulé, and so did Roy. A specialist in window fabrication, Roy rose through the ranks as a working foreman, foreman and finally supervisor of the sash forming section.
With 44 years under his belt, and at age 59, Roy looks like a good bet to become the first 50 year man at Soulé. Can anyone challenge Roy for the title "most years at Soulé"? We'd like to know about it.
Photo: Roy Fisher
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NEW SAN DIEGO OFFICE
Soule Thrives In Southern Climes!
San Diego! A city of half a million people; located on the Pacific Ocean only 16 miles from Mexico; a city which enjoys some of the most beautiful weather in the United States; another Soulé city.
Soulé first began operations in San Diego in January of 1957. It was a one-man office, (the man was Scott Anderson, now general manager of the Commodity Products Division), and the office was one room in the back of a realtor's office. As business prospered, the staff grew, a bigger office was found on 5th Avenue. Later, still larger quarters were acquired in the same building, and, at the beginning of 1964, Soulé moved to its new office and fabricating shop on Old Cliffs Road in eastern San Diego.
The office is a Soulé building (naturally) and was erected by Joe Downs and his Steel Structures Division field crew from Los Angeles. The concrete and the crane rails for the fabricating shop were installed by Earl Byars, Soulé's Steel Structures dealer in San Diego. To further testify to San Diego's glorious weather, we might add that this is an "outdoor" fab. shop.
Soulé's San Diego staff isn't large, but we couldn't do without them. George Halgedahl is District Manager for Reinforcing and Ben Cairo just recently was appointed District Manager for the Steel Structures Division. Joining them in the office are Duane Jackson, Byron Kops and Kahtan Bayati in the detailing section, Lou Kreischer, who handles the estimating and Esther Longnecker, secretary, who keeps everyone and everything going (including the Soulé News). The shop is manned by Bill Tindle, Bob Harden and Mel Durham, and Joe Hoedebeck is the field superintendent.
*Photo: The San Diego crew . . . (l to r) George Halgedabl, Esther Longnecker, Ben Cairo, Kahtan Bayati, Bryan Kops, Duane Jackson, Lon Kreisher.*
*Photo: Big wheel in the field, superintendent Joe Haedebeck.*
*Photo: Gal Friday—plus the rest of the week—Esther Longnecker, office secretary and associate editor, Soulé News.*
New District Manager at San Diego Plant
Born and raised in Chicago, Ben attended Marshall High and Austin College. Prior to moving to California, he worked for Bergendahl & Kien, Civil Engineers, designing steel substations and transmission towers. Previous to this he was with M. H. Dietrich Company, designing lining and casting for open hearth furnaces, and also worked with Payson Manufacturing of Chicago in engineering, sales and estimating of mechanical operators.
Ben makes his home in San Diego with his wife, Suzanne, and three boys, Benny, Billy and Bobby.
New District Manager for the San Diego District of the Steel Structures Division is B. S. "Ben" Cairo, Jr.
Ben is now starting his 13th year with Soulé Steel, and went to work first in the window engineering department. He next moved up to window engineering checker, then to the estimating department, under the direction of Lee Elmburg.
In 1957 he transferred from Los Angeles to the San Diego office which was just then being opened, and was later put in charge of Soulé buildings in the San Diego District.
*Photo: Ben Cairo.*
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Unconfirmed Injury Clouds Final Safety Standings
It was hoped that the final 1963 safety standings, showing the winners in both the plant and field leagues, could be announced in this issue, along with the grand champion location which topped the combined plant and field standings. With press-time rapidly approaching, however, the winners of the field and combined races still are a mystery.
The reason for this quandry is the fact that Phoenix has reported an unconfirmed lost-time accident in their field operations during December, and the decision as to the true status of this injury won't be made for several weeks. If it does turn out to be a lost-time accident, Southern California will be the field league champion and also
the combined champion in partnership with the Los Angeles Plant. If it doesn't prove to be a confirmed lost-timer, Phoenix will win both the field and combined titles.
In the plant league, Phoenix and Seattle came under the finish line as co-champions, each with a perfect record of no lost-time injuries during 1963. Our congratulations to these teams on a truly remarkable record.
Next month, the newsletter will feature the champions in all categories and will announce the championship awards. Until that time, all you Arizonans and Southern Californians will just have to keep your fingers crossed.
SAD SAM
SAFETY STANDINGS DECEMBER, 1963
Plant League Los Angeles . . . . . 1.000 L. A. Rebar . . . . . 1.000 Portland . . . . . 1.000 Phoenix . . . . . 1.000 Seattle . . . . . 1.000 San Francisco . . . . . .996
Field League Seattle . . . . . . 1.000 So. California . . . . . .997 No. California . . . . . .989 Mill . . . . . . . .984 Portland . . . . . . .978 Phoenix . . . . . . . * *Unverified Injury in December
BOYD JOINS "TURTLE CLUB"
Newest member of Soulé's "Turtle Club" is Dennis Boyd, above, of the Long Beach Mill. Dennis became a "Turtle Clubber" when a pendant switch box of a crane got loose and swung through the air striking him on the hard hat. The blow put a half-inch dent in his hat.
Imagine what it would have done to his head if he had not been wearing a hard hat at that moment!
The hat he is wearing was received upon his admission to the "Turtle Club." The one he is holding is the hat which very possibly saved his life.
Photo: Boyd joins "Turtle Club"
NEW SAFETY MANAGER
Charles W. Mickel has been appointed Safety Manager of Soulé Steel, at San Francisco.
Mickel, who has served the past year as an independent safety consultant, will report to Labor Relations Director Ralph Shulenberger. He was formerly safety director at Fairchild Corporation and from 1954-1959 occupied a similar post with Litton Industries in San Carlos.
Charley attended the University of California and during World War II served as a Major with the U. S. Army in paratroop and artillery divisions, European Theater of Operations.
He is married and makes his home in Palo Alto.
SEASON STANDINGS
Plant League Phoenix . . . . . . 1.000 Seattle . . . . . . 1.000 Los Angeles . . . . . .999 L. A. Rebar . . . . . .996 San Francisco . . . . . .995 Portland . . . . . . .983
Field League Phoenix . . . . . . * So. California . . . . . .993 No. California . . . . . .992 Mill . . . . . . . .991 Seattle . . . . . . .988 Portland . . . . . . .977 *Unverified Injury in December
Soule News
Published monthly by the Soulé Steel Co. - Douglas Gordon, Editor Associate Editors Dominguez—Frank Kleman Fresno—Jo Davis Los Angeles—Don Garner Phoenix—Rod Newton Portland—Dolores Bedgood Salt Lake—Andree George San Diego—Esther Longnecker Seattle—Dee Henderson