Steele Solutions becomes first manufacturer to earn SMA Certification for Industrial Work Platforms.
New certification recognizes engineering excellence, quality manufacturing, and adherence to the industry’s leading standard for industrial work platforms.
MILWAUKEE, WIS (August 12, 2026) – Steele Solutions Inc., a leading provider of engineered solutions for the material handling industry, including structural work platforms, material handling chutes, automation controls, and electrical design, has become the first manufacturer to earn the Storage Manufacturers Association (SMA) Certification for industrial work platforms.
Developed by the Storage Manufacturers Association (SMA), an industry group within MHI, the certification establishes a new benchmark for the design, testing, and quality of industrial work platforms. Steele Solutions is the first company to successfully complete the program, demonstrating its long-standing commitment to engineering excellence, manufacturing quality, and continuous improvement.
“This certification reflects something that’s been at the core of Steele Solutions for 30 years—our commitment to engineering products the right way,” said Kevin O’Neill, CEO. “We’re honored to be the first company to earn this distinction, but what makes it especially meaningful is what it represents for our customers: confidence that every platform is designed, tested, and manufactured to the highest industry standards.”
Unlike many industry awards, SMA Certification is based on an extensive third-party review process that evaluates engineering calculations, product testing, and quality management systems. To earn certification, manufacturers must demonstrate compliance with ANSI MH28.3, the industry’s standard for the design and fabrication of industrial work platforms. The standard was recently adopted as a referenced standard within the International Building Code, providing building officials and project teams with a dedicated framework for evaluating industrial work platforms.
“Customers are looking for more than a platform supplier—they’re looking for a trusted engineering partner,” said Tyler Drouin, Director of Platform Design at Steele Solutions and Chair of the SMA Engineering Committee. “SMA Certification provides independent validation that our products meet rigorous standards for design, testing, and quality. It gives customers confidence they’re receiving a solution that’s safe, reliable, and engineered specifically for their application.”
The certification is the culmination of years of collaboration among industry leaders to establish a unified standard for industrial work platforms. Steele Solutions played an active role in developing both the ANSI MH28.3 standard and the certification program, helping advance best practices that benefit the entire material handling industry.
While the certification recognizes Steele Solutions’ engineering capabilities today, company leaders see it as an investment in the future.
“As our industry continues to evolve, we’re committed to helping shape the standards that guide it,” Drouin said. “Being the first manufacturer to earn SMA Certification demonstrates that we’re not simply keeping pace with industry expectations—we’re helping define them.”
For customers, the certification offers another level of assurance that Steele Solutions’ work platforms are engineered for long-term performance, manufactured under rigorous quality standards and backed by a company actively involved in advancing the future of the material handling industry.
For more information about Steele Solutions, visit www.steelesolutions.com.
About Steele Solutions, Inc.
Steele Solutions, Inc. is a North American leader in engineered solutions for the material handling industry—including automation controls, electrical design, steel platforms, and chutes. The company partners with industry-leading integrators who lead warehouse automation projects for large e-commerce retailers and parcel providers. Steele Solutions is headquartered in South Milwaukee, WI, and operates manufacturing facilities in South Milwaukee, WI; Waupaca, WI; and Tiffin, OH. In addition, the company has full support personnel in West Allis, WI; Tiffin, OH; and Atlanta, GA.
