Bridger Steel

Metal panels provide two great assets for buildings—protection from the harshest weather conditions and the desired look and finish. These durable panels, with little need for maintenance, come in all sorts of colors and shapes, making them the preferred roofing and siding material for architects. From modern architectural designs to rustic looks, steel panels are perfect for all design types.

With a strong focus on helping architects, builders, homeowners, farmers, and ranchers create strong and durable structures that are pleasing to the eye and stand up to the elements, Bridger Steel offers high-quality metal panels for roofing, siding, and interior projects.

“Each project demands different specifications of strength, durability, and impact rating,” says Srinivas Anday, CEO of Bridger Steel. “We produce custom flat panels with high quality finishes and rugged corrugated panels that rust over time for an aged, western look.”

The ease of installation and long-lasting finishes make Bridger Steel’s products the best solutions for dry construction. These products are tested, reviewed, and used by some of the most successful architects in the country.

No Compromise on Quality

Bridger Steel manufactures a wide variety of panel profiles, including corrugated and rusted metal roofing and siding panels, horizontal and vertical siding panels, trapezoidal and mechanical lock panels, and interior lining panels.

Designed to provide a bold look to constructions, these products come in a wide variety of sizes and are used by clients for residential, light commercial, interior, and agricultural projects. From standing seam metal panels for uninterrupted lines and accents to flat panels for a minimalistic look, the company has the right panel for every type of construction.

In an industry where time is of the essence, Bridger Steel understands the importance of delivering its products on time to enable clients to complete projects within deadline. The company diligently works with multiple suppliers to tackle the inconsistency in raw material supply caused by the pandemic and ensure continuity of production. It purchases steel from American producers and works with home-grown paint and accessory companies to consistently manufacture the highest-quality panels. The finished goods are delivered promptly to Bridger Steel’s nationwide customer base via its extensive network of transportation partners.

In addition to delivering high-quality products to its clients, Bridger Steel ensures that the product is the right fit for the project. The company works with architects and provides them with panel engineering data to make informed choices for each project. The architects then specify the products on the construction plan shared with contractors, builders, and homeowners.

Along with engineering data, Bridger Steel also leverages technology to give clients a better understanding of the project’s demands. For one project, Bridger Steel was called upon to provide roofing material for a library. The company collected the dimensions and pictures of the library and entered them into its system, which then showed the number of panels required, their top and side view, the number of trims, and the kinds of bends and curves needed for the panels. These insights enabled Bridger Steel to complete the project more efficiently than traditional manual processes.

Delivering Standout Products with Technical Expertise

Bridger Steel’s engineering architecture division plays a key role in identifying the right type of roof for each project. Based on the building’s structure and location, the team determines the type of material and gauge of steel required. In some cases, clients prefer a rustic finish or custom design. Whatever the requirement, Bridger Steel finds a way to fulfill the client’s needs and help them achieve the desired look.

“We follow a unique process while catering to our clients. We work with the contractors and home builders to understand their needs and propose suitable options. Our goal is to always provide products that are best suited for the local conditions, such as snowfall rate and wind speed, and the type of structure it will be used in,” says Anday.

All of this is made possible due to Bridger Steel’s attention to detail, its trained sales staff, highly skilled estimators, and the quality standards it sets for itself.

The combination of its experienced team and advanced technologies enables the company to provide unique panel profiles and finishes suited for all types of design. This, in turn, allows designers to create one-of-a-kind solutions for fresh looks.

Accelerating Growth through Goal- Oriented Strategies

Spearheading the success of Bridger Steel, Anday has been instrumental in leading its transformational journey. His 30 years of experience in advanced Japanese management and production processes have been instrumental in putting the company on track to continued growth.

A key component of this growth is the Bridger Recovery Plan (BRP) 21, a hybrid management system that adopts industry-leading practices from Japan, India, and the U.S. Implemented in September 2021, the plan aimed to consolidate the company’s production from eight different plants to one central manufacturing facility, enabling it to drastically reduce its cash conversion cycle. Until then, it required 6 to 12 months to complete a job. With BRP 21, the same was achieved in three weeks.
The plan also made significant improvements in terms of safety and Bridger’s environmental impact. Operating from a central manufacturing facility allowed the company to drastically reduce fuel consumption, bringing logistics costs down by nearly 48 percent.

Based on its success, Bridger Steel designed BRP 22 with a focus on process improvements and training. Currently in Phase IV of BRP 22, it is revamping its sales and marketing approach to scale production. This measured approach has put it on the path to advancing into new markets with innovative products and services, and tripling its conversion rates. In partnership with PrinsBank, Bridger is positioning itself for BRP 23 and aims to continue making significant production and process improvements.

A Collaborative Work Culture

One of the most significant components of BRP has been the cultural change at Bridger Steel. The Kaizen methodology is applied for a bottom-up management system and an open-door policy.

“A cultural change cannot be enforced. You have to prove to your employees that a certain change is only going to help them increase their productivity. Bridger Steel has been successful at doing that,” says Anday.

With its production facility located in ‘The Last Best Place,’ the Montana culture seeps into all of Bridger Steel’s operations. The company aims to create lasting beauty at the core of its culture, and its team works with dedication to drive quality results for its customers. It plans to expand to international markets and bring its unique products and culture to different parts of the world. Bridger Steel is also set to launch a new custom panel designed by its engineers that will bring a simpler installation process to a highly popular batten panel.

A true Montana company founded by Dennis Johnson, Bridger Steel has witnessed its share of highs and lows. Rising like a phoenix from the ashes, the company has truly emerged as a well-run organization that is prepared to serve customers across the globe.