South Milwaukee's redeveloping former Bucyrus complex lands its first major tenant: manufacturer Steele Solutions

The redevelopment of South Milwaukee's former Bucyrus complex has landed its first major tenant.

Steele Solutions Inc. has entered a long-term lease for the 209,675-square-foot Big Muskie building at 1100 Milwaukee Ave., according to a Thursday announcement from Cushman & Wakefield/Boerke Co.

White Plains, New York-based Reich Brothers LLC is redeveloping the 27-acre former Bucyrus property. It contains over 750,000 square feet of industrial and office space within seven buildings.

Steele Solutions makes mezzanines and catwalks and is expanding operations to South Milwaukee. It is based in Franklin and also has a Milwaukee facility.

“South Milwaukee has always been a hub for heavy manufacturing, and we look forward to helping keep that tradition alive," said Chief Executive Officer Kevin O’Neill.

"Adding the Big Muskie building to our other two local fabrication plants will help us keep up with the rapid growth our customers are experiencing," he said in a statement.

Mayor Erik Brooks called it great news for South Milwaukee.

“It’s exciting to see new life, and new jobs, come to the former Bucyrus campus in the heart of our city, and build on our manufacturing legacy," Brooks said in a statement.

A Reich Brothers affiliate in 2018 paid $13.3 million for the buildings between Rawson Avenue, Milwaukee Avenue, 10th Avenue and the railroad tracks.

They were sold by mining and construction equipment maker Caterpillar Inc. 

Caterpillar took over those operations in its 2011 acquisition of Bucyrus International Inc. The company later consolidated its South Milwaukee operations to the buildings north of Rawson Avenue.

Brokers Terry McMahon, Cody Ziegler and Steve Styza of Cushman & Wakefield/Boerke represented Reich Bros. Steve Sewart of Colliers International represented Steele Solutions.