hot rolled steel Archives | National Material Company

8 02, 2024

New Year, Great Outlook for Metals Processor National Material Company

jane2024-02-04T19:21:16+00:00February 8th, 2024|News Blog|

So what exactly makes National Material Company a top-of-the-line metals processor? Read on to find out.

The world we live in today has been greatly influenced by the steel industry, a legacy that all began in the Iron Age, when humans discovered the power of iron. During that time, steel production was still initially time-consuming and expensive. However, a significant turning point arrived with the introduction of the Bessemer converter. The game-changer came in the mid-19th century, revolutionizing steel manufacturing by making it more accessible and cost-effective. This innovation spurred rapid growth and enabled steel’s critical role in constructing everything from skyscrapers to intricate machinery, profoundly impacting society.

The modern steel industry is a sophisticated and advanced sector, characterized by numerous processes. Over the years, multiple advancements have significantly enhanced the efficiency, sustainability, and affordability of metals and steel processing.

National Material Company: Your Leading Metals Processor

National Material Company is North America’s leading metal processor and service provider with a rich history dating back to 1964. What was once a steel service center for electrical grade steel in Chicago, NMC has impressively expanded its capabilities to all types of flat-rolled steel processing. Over the years, they have built several processing facilities in the United States, making their mark in the flat-rolled steel processing and supply chain management sectors.

Today, National Material Company is recognized as a top choice for customers seeking high-quality metal processing services. Their reputation as a reliable metal processor is strengthened by a skilled team, state-of-the-art equipment, and extensive storage capabilities. With multiple locations across the U.S., they efficiently and cost-effectively meet the diverse needs of their clients. NMC’s commitment to excellence, combined with nearly six decades of experience, makes them an invaluable partner in the metals & steel service industry.

Discover a vast array of solutions, offerings, and expertise that NMC can bring to the table:

Galvanized Steel

NMC’s galvanized steel processing capabilities produce a high-quality metal products treated with zinc to make it corrosion and rust-resistant. Therefore, it will last longer than regular steel. The zinc coating helps to protect the steel from harmful elements that can cause corrosion and rust. This makes it a reliable and durable material for any project. Its durability in withstanding harsh weather conditions makes it so popular to an array of industries. These include automotive, construction, wind and solar, energy, and telecommunications.

Advanced High-Strength Steel (AHSS)

Secondly, one of NMC’s most exciting capabilities is the ability to process advanced high-strength steel (AHSS). Engineers have crafted this special steel to exhibit remarkable strength and lightness by utilizing chemical compositions and manufacturing processes. AHSS can form into complex shapes, thereby enabling manufacturers to decrease the number of individual parts required to create a product. It’s perfect for meeting the automotive industry’s strict regulations and helping manufacturers reduce emissions, improve safety, and enhance fuel economy.

Steel Supply

[…]

7 10, 2021

Steel Supply Chain Management: National Material Company

Cara2021-10-07T18:09:59+00:00October 7th, 2021|News Blog, NMC Media|

As a leader in supply-chain management, just-in-time programs, and inventory control, National Material Company is the perfect choice for any customer in search of the best experience possible. A skilled workforce, state-of-the-art metals processing machinery, and warehouse storage capabilities make NMC the company to compete with.

National Material Company has a particularly strong focus on delivering additional value to their customers — delivering excellence at every step in the supply chain — maximizing quality, cost, and speed.

Metal Processing:

Slitting
Pickling
Blanking
Galvanizing

Learn more

Logistics Optimization:

Materials from A to B at lowest possible cost for the Customer

- Cost-efficiently linking 22 plants, steel mills, and a certified processor network
- Total freight cost in 1 invoice: mill to processor to OEM
- Custom-designed for all NMC programs

Pricing Programs:

NMC provides numerous pricing options

CRU-indexed contracts allow price to change
Directed-buy pricing – OEM negotiates price with mill, NMC buys metal at “directed” price
Firm price for a defined period
Resale option– OEM negotiates price with mill, processor “resells” back to OEM at a price that includes value-added services
Spot pricing– one-time purchase with quick turnaround
Hedging/futures— eliminates price volatility

Value Added / Value Engineering:

Providing value over & above the price of the steel

Part appraisals
Mass reduction—light weighting
Product & process training
And more…

Electronic Data Interchange (EDI):

Increases accuracy and efficiency of transactions

Automated transaction processing
Eliminates keystroke errors

Outsourced parts:

Using a network of partners, NMC can provide

Stamping
Laser
Roll form
Press break
Welding
And more…

About Parent Company 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 metals in North 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 […]

8 07, 2021

Sustainable Steel Industry: Build Using Steel

Cara2021-07-08T17:15:17+00:00July 8th, 2021|News Blog, NMC Media|

The steel industry, as one of the globe’s premier industries in size and history, has taken its place of leadership in transforming itself towards sustainability. Previously identified as a smokestack industry, the steel industry has introduced new technologies and practices in becoming a green industry of sustainable steel.

Elon Musk has stated that environmental concerns “supersede political parties, race, creed, religion, it doesn’t matter. If we do not solve the environment, we’re all damned.” Or as Cameron Sinclair put it, “For 90 percent of the world, sustainability is a matter of survival.” For historian Thomas Fuller, the idea is very simple, “We never know the worth of water ‘til the well is dry.”

One way to see the huge strides the steel industry has taken is by looking at structural steel used in green construction. In particular, the “wood versus steel debate” sheds light on all the different aspects that need to be accounted for when considering sustainability and carbon neutrality.

For example, care must be taken to examine all the details involved with a product’s complete lifecycle. The extraction, manufacturing, and transportation of the materials must be calculated, but also the longevity, disposability, and reusability. Furthermore, all derivative processes must be considered. If the electricity used in steel plants is solar or wind energy, the steel industry becomes more sustainable without directly changing itself, just by modifying tangential processes. The same goes for the wood industry. Not all forest management practices are created equal, and the care taken in logging and replanting trees can radically change the sustainable nature of a material like wood.

By paying attention to all these details, the structural steel industry has decreased its carbon footprint per ton by 36%, lowered energy intensity per ton by 31%, and decreased greenhouse gas emissions per ton by 45%.

One of the most promising aspects of modern American steel processing is recycling, with steel being 100% recyclable. As reported by Architect Magazine, “The American Institute of Steel Construction estimates that 98% of structural steel from demolished buildings is recovered and recycled into new steel products. As such, domestically produced structural steel, which comes from electric arc furnace (EAF) mills, boasts a recycled content of 93%.” Because of steel’s longevity, in fact, one of the major bottlenecks in steel recycling is that, despite 98% of structural steel being recycled, finding enough scrap globally for the potential output of electric arc furnaces can be a problem.

Through innovation and design, the steel industry hopes to reach the ultimate goal: carbon neutrality. It is a fitting goal for an industry with a trajectory as important as steel. If we indeed turn this next century into the “Green Century,” the innovators of our times will become the heroes of the future. That, NMC believes, is a goal worth fighting for.

At NMC our steel slitting, cold rolled steel, hot rolled steel, and all our steel processes aim to continue the tradition of […]

24 06, 2021

The Slitting Line and Steel Slitting Process Explained

andre2021-06-24T18:47:26+00:00June 24th, 2021|News Blog, NMC Media|

Steel is an alloy of iron that is mixed with carbon which improves its strength and durability. Combine these properties with its low cost and you have a perfectly-suited alloy for a multitude of uses in various end applications, including (but not limited to) automotive, infrastructure, and appliance/HVAC.

Enter the role of steel processors. Steel processing companies like National Material Company provide manufacturers with the right steel material for their industry. This article will focus on the topic of steel slitting and how the slitting process works.

Steel slitting is a steel manufacturing process wherein a coil of steel is slit into the lengths and widths specified by the end application. This process requires machinery lines equipped with a decoiler, slitter, and a recoiler — to achieve the end product: slit steel coils, or “mults.”

An operator will feed the steel coil onto the uncoiler mandrel. The uncoiler unwinds the master coil, feeding it into the slitter head where the steel will be slit into narrow mults (strips) by rotary knives. The operator then inspects the individual mults to ensure the gauge width and edge condition meet required specifications. The mults will then travel through a looping pit to insure stress-free and camber-free recoiling of the slit material. Individual mults are then banded and packaged to specific customer requirements.

This process requires careful precision. Leading steel processing company NMC operates several steel service centers in the United States and Mexico using robust precision slitting machines equipped with advanced technology in software, tooling practices, and hardware. This helps National Material Company streamline their production and reduces their time to delivery. NMC thoroughly checks their equipment for alignment and regularly calibrates their machine line to help reduce scrap and overall cost.

National Material Company spent decades perfecting the art of steel processing to provide only the best to their clients, earning their position as a top steel processor. NMC guarantees top tier quality for all of your steel supply needs, and they also offer a wide variety of steel processing capabilities.

About National Material L.P. – National Material L.P. (NMLP) has been in the steel service industry since 1964. Operating 16 steel service centers and processing facilities across the United States, Canada, and Mexico makes them one of the largest independent steel service centers in North America. For more information about National Material L.P, visit www.nmlp.com

To find out more information about NMC’s products and services, please visit us at www.nationalmaterial.com or call (U.S.) 847-806-7200 to speak with a sales representative.

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 […]

12 Next