Cyclone Digs Deep with XLERCOIL®

An iconic Australian company continues to grow, further developing its premier range of products with the help of BlueScope Steel. The Cyclone brand has been around for over 100 years.

News Item: 7 June 2004

Established in 1898, the "Cyclone Woven Wire Fence Company" began its operations by manufacturing the well-known Cyclone Fence. In 1956, Cyclone began manufacturing garden tools, such as spades, shovels, and forks. Now, with over 150 employees working from three locations in Victoria and New South Wales, Cyclone Industries has become one of the most respected gardening tool suppliers in Australia.

Cyclone Industries is also part of the Illinois Tool Works group of companies, a global enterprise that encompasses more than 400 businesses, operates throughout 35 different countries and employs over 29,000 staff. This international network provides Cyclone with valuable intellectual resources and a powerful financial base.

"In many ways we are similar to BlueScope Steel," says General Manager, Alan Mackie. "We are both established companies with proud Australian histories and a huge emphasis on the quality and reliability of our products. Quality is really one of our key values. Because the Cyclone brand is so iconic in the marketplace, it's paramount that we continue to provide the reliability and strength that people have come to expect from Cyclone."

"The big advantage of our products is that they are very popular with tradespeople, they are a professional standard, working tool. This also tends to be a big selling point with the consumer market, as consumers want to use the same quality tools as the professionals."

Each Cyclone shovel and spade is cut from a high carbon steel, which is boron titanium steel, using a computer controlled plasma cutter to ensure it adheres to Cyclone's precise specifications. They are hot formed then quenched and tempered to achieve extreme hardness and toughness. The blades are then fitted to premium grade Australian Spotted Gum or polymer coated, fiberglass handles and painted for rust protection.

In order to make a tough product, you need strong steel. Cyclone spades and shovels are cut from a special grade of XLERCOIL® hot rolled steel from BlueScope Steel. This steel was specifically developed by BlueScope Steel for applications such as Cyclone Industries' shovel and spade range.

"Initially, we were using an water quenched, high carbon grade of steel, which we'd used since the early 1960s, and which had its limitations," explains Grant Della, Plant Manager at Cyclone Industries.

"BlueScope Steel identified XK15B28 XLERCOIL® steel as being much better suited for the manufacture of our shovels and spades. The boron allows excellent hardenability and titanium resists grain coarsening for enhanced toughness. The new steel has given us shovels and spades with superior strength and abrasion resistance.

"BlueScope Steel worked closely with us to develop a grade that suited our needs," he continues. "We conducted some trials, and made certain modifications to our processes and equipment in order to be able to use the new steel. BlueScope Steel was very involved and supportive in this process

"The main thing we have achieved with this new grade of steel is a greater hardness and strength in our products, which we believe is unparalleled in gardening tools," adds Grant.

Cyclone Industries purchases about 500 tonnes of steel from BlueScope Steel each year. According to Alan Mackie, the close working relationship between BlueScope Steel and Cyclone Industries has contributed to the success of Cyclone's manufacturing operations.

"We operate in a very homogenised marketplace. There has been a great rationalisation in the retail sector, leaving us with three very large customers, Bunnings, Mitre 10, and the Danks Group. When you have a small number of customers, you need to be able to supply in large quantities. One of the things we appreciate in working with BlueScope Steel is that they are an excellent supplier in terms of delivery, they will work to our schedule to allow us to maintain our supply levels. Working with BlueScope Steel allows us a great deal of flexibility in our ordering patterns, which has particularly helped us with our stock levels and raw material holdings."

Alan says that Cyclone's success is due in part to its emphasis on simplicity. "We are always working on taking complexity out of our operations. We have to compete on a global level, which means we have to stay focused. Simple philosophies, product line simplification and product analysis are key. We only work with products that are achieving profitable growth. At the moment, we're winning."