Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. launches ABB conveyor portfolio with local field-service support

Reliance Steel rolls out ABB conveyor portfolio in Fort Worth

Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. announces in Fort Worth, Texas, that it is offering ABB’s comprehensive conveyor system portfolio to customers in manufacturing and logistics, seeking to boost efficiency, uptime and productivity across assembly, packaging and product-fulfillment lines. The move leverages Reliance Steel’s position as a high-service global product and service solutions provider to deliver ABB’s engineered components and controls into local operations. Company statements frame the offering as a systems-plus-service play, pairing component breadth with on-the-ground inventory and technical support.

Field service push aims to cut conveyor downtime

Reliance Steel positions the ABB line — including contactors and soft starters — as a direct response to the costs and reliability challenges that disrupt automated material handling. Contactor technology enables remote or automated starting, stopping and direction changes on belt drives by switching higher-power motor and distribution circuits with low-power electromagnetic coils, while soft starters reduce motor inrush current and mechanical stress to prolong equipment life. Reliance Steel says the combination helps customers raise uptime and productivity while lowering energy consumption and repair frequencies.

The company emphasizes integration with control systems and local support to make uptime gains practical. ABB contactors work with PLCs and other automation hardware for automated cycling and safety interlocks; the supplier’s portfolio is engineered for common electrical and mechanical stresses and includes variants for harsh environments. Reliance Steel’s global inventory, technical configuration assistance and local service teams are presented as the operational layer that helps customers select, install and maintain ABB solutions and manage unplanned downtime risk.

Conveyor market backdrop and growth drivers

Industry data cited by Reliance Steel indicates the global conveyor belt market is worth $5.68 billion in 2025 and projects to $7.21 billion by 2030, driven by expansion in industrial automation and e-commerce, sectors Reliance Steel sees as long-term demand sources. Key barriers to faster adoption include rising energy-efficiency requirements and high installation, repair and maintenance costs — with unplanned downtime estimates cited between $10,000 and $500,000 per hour.

Component depth and application reach

ABB offers more than 8,500 contactor variants — three- and four-pole designs, AC-optimized and NEMA-rated units, safety and mini contactors — that Reliance Steel markets for diverse conveyor and drive applications. The company frames its role as delivering both product breadth and local service to help manufacturers translate automation investments into measurable uptime and cost outcomes.