NMC Media Archives | Page 5 of 14 | National Material Company

21 11, 2020

The Best Jobs in Steel Processing: Steel Service Center Listings

andre2020-12-15T18:49:22+00:00November 21st, 2020|News Blog|

Are you dynamic, hardworking, smart, and ready for any new challenge? If you fit this description, you are a person of steel. Come join one of America’s most prestigious industries, with a history as colorful and powerful as any. This is not your grandfather’s steel service and processing industry. Today, more than ever, experienced, and skilled workers are needed to run all the aspects of our sophisticated steel processing plants.

Common steel processing job listings include:

Metallurgist and Quality Testing Specialist – Inspects and tests all incoming steel master coils and outgoing finished goods to customers to meet customer and in-house quality requirements.

Processing Equipment Operators – Highly trained to set-up and run all steel service center equipment including pickling, galvanizing, slitters, leveling, cut-to-length, blanking, and other processes.

Plant Maintenance Specialist – Provides repair and scheduled maintenance services to keep the operations of the plant reliable and efficient.

Plant Scheduling Planner – Receives processing work orders from an inside sales specialist and schedules plant equipment and processing equipment operators to complete customer purchase orders for processing services and finished goods.

Plant Safety Specialist – Provides training and support to ensure the health and safety of employees and to meet all state and national regulations and reporting requirements.

Outside Sales Associate – Utilizes marketing and company product and services information to call on new and existing customers to sell products and available services.

Steel Products and Process Quoting Specialist – Supports the sales team with accurate and competitive quotes to meet the customer product specifications and cost targets.

Steel Purchasing Specialist – Works with steel mills to buy master coil steel inventory and other products to support service center cost, quality, and delivery timing to meet the customer needs.

Steel Logistics Specialist – Schedules and negotiates cost for all truck and rail freight to support timing for incoming master coils and outgoing finished goods to customers.

Inside Sales Specialist – Manages all purchase orders from customers for new and repeat steel finished goods and processing requests. Creates work orders to all the service center internal groups for required steel master coils, requesting internal processing services, and shipping finished goods to the customer.

HR Specialist – Recruits, hires, provides training for new employees, and company benefit support. Ensures that the company is meeting all EEOC and other regulations and reporting requirements.

IT Specialist – Provides all computer-related services and equipment to support company requirements.

Marketing Specialist – Creates marketing information in various media formats describing the capabilities, manufacturing specialties, and locations of company assets.

With the sophistication of the today’s steel environment, workers in service centers and processing facilities are the foundation of success for steel companies. That’s why companies like NMC foster a respectful and appreciative atmosphere designed for the well-being of the workers. As one of the largest-growing, independent steel service centers and processing facilities, NMC is constantly looking for new talent ready to help in the expansion of the business. NMC offers a competitive benefits package for team members:

Quotes from our workers:

“I like […]

26 10, 2020

Steel Services and Pre-painted Steel: Over 50 Years of Steel Processing Expertise

andre2020-10-26T18:27:08+00:00October 26th, 2020|News Blog|

As a leader in supply-chain management, optimal supply solutions, process & product analysis, just-in-time inventory, and customized solutions to meet customer needs, National Material Company is the ideal choice for any customer in search of the best experience possible. A committed workforce, state-of-the-art processing equipment and warehouse storage capabilities make NMC the company to count on for future success. Locations throughout the U.S. offer a logistic advantage resulting in a more efficient service to conserve our customer’s most valuable resource: cost.

National Material Company not only provides the best practices in the industry, but also offers insights into transforming process into profit. NMC creates value through seamlessly integrating improvements at every step: from initial value engineering to final product delivery. That means if there is a way to improve quality and efficiency, NMC will help you find it.

It’s no wonder that their clients report significant savings as a result of the NMC’s VA/VE insights.
National Material Company’s steel processing services include pre-painted steel, slitting, blanking, cut-to-length, leveling, export packaging, rail and barge shipping and receiving, scrap programs, configured blanks, stamping press tooling needs, complete mechanical and metallurgical testing/metallurgical technical services, pickling, oiling, and dry-lube and hot dipped galvanizing. Client: Leading manufacturer of HVAC and refrigeration compressors
Savings: $475K annually
NMC Contribution: Increased material utilization and reducing scrap by purchasing wider pre-painted steel master coils and improved nesting configurations.

Client: Large producer of recreational vehicles
Savings: $1 Million
NMC Contribution: Modification in purchasing to acquire fully finished, pre-painted master coils.

Client: Large refrigeration tubing company
Savings: $1 Million
NMC Contribution: Leveraged National Material Company’s global sourcing capabilities combined with their in-house metallurgical expertise to develop a specialty cold rolled steel. Client: Producer of extruded aluminum roll-up awning tubes
Savings: $750K
NMC Contribution: Introduced a highly flexible paint system continuously coil-coated over a formable hot dip galvanized grade of flat rolled steel.

Client: Leading manufacturer of HVAC and refrigeration compressors
Savings: $1.5 Million
NMC Contribution: Leveraged National Material Company’s logistics capabilities. The steel for this application is now melted, hot rolled, pickled/lubed, and circle blanked all within the same state prior to being delivered to our customer’s plant location.

Client: Garage door manufacturer
Savings: $100,000 annually
NMC Contribution: Developed a special grade of hot dip galvanized steel.

Why National Material Company?

It is the appreciation of all moving parts that will make a client’s final product a commercial success. With expert supply chain management, just-on time delivery, and access to all the right partnerships, NMC can deliver the right steel at the right time. About National Material L.P. – Since its founding in 1964, National Material Limited Partnership has grown to over 30 business units and is now one of the largest suppliers of steel in America. The National Material group of industrial businesses consists of the Steel Group, Stainless and Alloys Group, Raw Material Trading Group, Aluminum Group, and Related Operations.

Please visit us at www.nationalmaterial.com or call (U.S.) 847-806-7200 to discuss how we can be of service.

30 09, 2020

Steel Processing at National Galvanizing

andre2020-09-30T19:24:37+00:00September 30th, 2020|News Blog|

Today, modern chemists must face the same problem that one element posed to the Egyptians thatshould have destroyed the pyramids. It’s that ubiquitous element that threatens everything made by humans: water. As frost formed inside the stone structure at night and expanded with the morning, slow cumulative damage should have been done to the pyramids. For many years, this mystery defied the explanation of archeologists, however was eventually solved. A detailed study concluded that ancient Egyptians relied on technology to defy the power of water: they had invented a primitive form of cement.

Water threatens the integrity of modern structures. Steel, the very backbone of modern civilization, rusts when it comes into contact with water. Technology has been the answer for modern man, just as it was for the pyramid builders. Various techniques have been developed to prevent steel from corroding. One of the most sought after by leading industries is galvanizing. Both long-lasting and cost-friendly, galvanized steel can resist rust for 70 years or more. The characteristics of the environment where it is used, and the thickness of the protective coat can influence the lifespan of the steel. Today, a sophisticated process known as hot-dipping is used to galvanize steel. Essentially, galvanizing adds a zinc-iron coating to the metal, forming a protective layer. The multi-step process described below gives galvanized steel its protective qualities:
1) The steel is cleaned in a degreasing solution.
2) After being cleaned, the steel is pickled by running through various tanks containing hot sulfuric acid.
3) The steel is then fluxed in an aqueous solution (typically zinc-ammonium chloride).
4) After the flux, the steel is galvanized through immersion in a vat of molten zinc.
5) Afterward, the steel is inspected for consistency and a complete coating.
Galvanized steel has a low, initial cost, and no need for maintenance. It also provides other important advantages:
• Rust resistance: The iron elements in steel are incredibly prone to rusting, but the addition of zinc acts as a protective buffer between the steel and any moisture or oxygen.
• Easy inspection: It is easy to tell how strong a galvanized coating is just by looking at it. There are also quick stress tests that can determine how thick the zinc coating is.
• Sacrificial anode: This ensures that any damaged steel is protected by the surrounding zinc coating. It does not matter if the steel section is completely exposed; the zinc will still corrode first.
• Longer life: With galvanization, a piece of industrial steel is expected to last 70 years in average environments and can last over 20 years with severe water exposure. No maintenance required.
Galvanization is part of a larger framework in steel preparation. Clients can benefit through facilities that can apply various processes to steel including hot-dipped galvanizing. That’s why National Galvanizing’s state-of-the-art facility enables pickling, galvanizing, galvannealing, and slitting, all in one location. As a joint venture between National Material L.P. and Heidtman Steel, National Galvanizing has an unparalleled structure for quality, high-speed supply that serves the automotive, heavy truck, agricultural, garage door hardware, and HVAC industries, among others.

NMLP […]

6 08, 2020

Steel and Recycling: Fun Facts!

andre2020-08-06T19:53:22+00:00August 6th, 2020|News Blog|

Here at National Material Company, we thought we’d pause, reflect, and share some good news and fun, interesting facts about the steel industry.

In 2016, Azo CleanTech reported that steel is the most recycled material in North America. The metal comes not only from cans but also from construction scraps, automobiles, and appliances, and it can be turned right back into steel that can be used in the same applications.

Recycling is at the core of the steel industry’s commitment to sustainability. According to steel.org, the North American steel-making furnaces “consume nearly 70 million tons of domestic steel scrap in the production of new steel.” By using steel scrap to make new steel, the North American steel industry conserves energy, emissions, raw materials, and natural resources. This commitment drives the reduction of steel’s environmental footprint, while producing advanced, highly-recycled steel products that meet an advancing society’s needs.

Here are some fun facts about steel and recycling:

Steel products can be recycled repeatedly without loss of strength.
Recycling steel saves the equivalent energy to power about 18 million households for a year.
More than 80 million tons of steel are recycled each year in North America.
For every ton of steel recycled, 2,500 pounds of iron ore, 1,400 pounds of coal, and 120 pounds of limestone are conserved.
Almost 69 percent of all steel is recycled in North America each year – more than paper, aluminum, plastic, & glass combined. North America’s average steel recycling rate has been in excess of 60 percent since 1970.
More than 95 percent of the water used for making steel in North America is recycled.
One scrapped car produces more than four steel utility poles.
95 percent of the steel taken from commercial construction demolition sites was recycled and made into new steel products in 2002.
100 percent of a steel roof can be recycled. Asphalt roofs – zero percent. (Steel roofs provide your family with excellent protection against wind, water, snow, ice, and fire and are even hail-resistant. Asphalt roofs actually weigh twice as much as steel roofs. Steel roofs can last over 50 years, while traditional roofs last only 17 years!
Steel food cans are the most recycled food package. 24,000 community recycling programs in North America collect steel cans. Canned food is as nutritious as its fresh and frozen counterparts upon preparation! Canned goods do not contain preservatives!!
All 99 pounds of steel in the average major appliance can be recycled to make
new steel products.

Also, according to Utah Recycles, there are many more encouraging examples of how the steel industry’s commitment to recycling is helping to save the planet. Steel only takes up to 100 years to fully decompose in a landfill, whereas it takes plastic 1000 years to break down (aluminum can take 200 years, tin can take decades)! Recycling steel takes 25% less energy and creates only 25% of the water and air pollution required to produce steel from raw materials. About 70% of all metal is […]

15 07, 2020

Steel Breakdown: Types, Classifications, and Numbering Systems

andre2020-07-15T20:37:01+00:00July 15th, 2020|News Blog|

In this blog, we will take an in-depth look at some of the most common categories of steel, what makes them different, and what to consider when deciding which type of steel is right for you.

Four Types of Steel

According to the American Iron & Steel Institute (AISI), steel can be categorized into four basic groups based on the chemical compositions:
1. Carbon steel
2. Alloy steel
3. Stainless steel
4. Tool steel

All steel is composed of iron and carbon. It is the amount of carbon, and the additional alloys, that determine the properties of each grade. There are many different grades of steel that encompass varied properties. These properties can be physical, chemical, and environmental. Let’s take a closer look!

Carbon steels contain trace amounts of alloying elements and account for 90% of total steel production. Carbon steels can be further categorized into three groups depending on their carbon content:

● Low carbon steels/mild steels contain up to 0.3% carbon
● Medium carbon steels contain 0.3-0.6% carbon
● High carbon steels contain more than 0.6% carbon

Alloy steels contain alloying elements (e.g. manganese, silicon, nickel, titanium, copper, chromium, and aluminum) in varying proportions in order to manipulate the steel’s properties, such as its hardenability, corrosion resistance, strength, formability, weldability, or ductility. Applications for alloy steels include pipelines, auto parts, transformers, power generators, and electric motors.

Stainless steels generally contain between 10-20% chromium as the main alloying element and are valued for high corrosion resistance. With over 11% chromium, stainless steel is about 200 times more resistant to corrosion than mild steel. These steels can be divided into three groups based on their crystalline structure:

Austenitic: Austenitic steels are non-magnetic and non-heat-treatable, and generally contain 18% chromium, 8% nickel, and less than 0.8% carbon. Austenitic steels form the largest portion of the global stainless steel market and are often used in food processing equipment, kitchen utensils, and piping.
Ferritic: Ferritic steels contain trace amounts of nickel, 12-17% chromium, less than 0.1% carbon, along with other alloying elements, such as molybdenum, aluminum, or titanium. These magnetic steels cannot be hardened by heat treatment but can be strengthened by cold working.

Martensitic: Martensitic steels contain 11-17% chromium, less than 0.4% nickel, and up to 1.2% carbon. These magnetic and heat-treatable steels are used in knives and cutting tools, as well as dental and surgical equipment.

Tool steels contain tungsten, molybdenum, cobalt, and vanadium in varying quantities to increase heat resistance and durability, making them ideal for cutting and drilling equipment.
Steel products can also be divided by their shapes and related applications:

Long/tubular products: These include bars and rods, rails, wires, angles, pipes, and shapes and sections. These products are commonly used in the automotive and construction sectors.

Flat products: These include plates, sheets, coils, and strips. These materials are mainly used in automotive parts, appliances, packaging, shipbuilding, and construction.
Other products include valves, fittings, and flanges and are mainly used as piping materials.

Classifications

Types of steel can […]

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