Steel is one of the most commonly used materials for both consumer and industrial applications.
Steel is made from iron, which occurs in nature in combination with other elements. There are more
than 3,500 different grades of steel with many different physical, chemical, and environmental
properties. With exceptional strength, flexibility, and recyclability, it is used in items we see almost
every day. Here are just a few of the industries where steel is important.
Here are five big industries that rely on steel, what the steel business means for their products and operations, and what their business means to us.
1. CONSTRUCTION
As we’ve touched on previously, steel is one of the world’s most reliable materials in large part due to its usage in construction.
At once energy-efficient, hyper-durable, long-lasting and lightweight, steel beams are commonplace in public and private construction sites
From infrastructures like railroads and bridges to skyscrapers, homes, and parks, steel provides the ultimate in affordability and strength.
The majority of steel is used in this industry, as structures can be built quickly at a low cost. For this reason,
construction trends and steel industry influence one another directly.
2. AUTOMOTIVE & TRANSPORT
As it remains the material of choice for automakers worldwide, steel helps manufacturers reach the desired strength and safety levels for vehicles large
and small. In fact, everything in the transportation industry from trains, to ships, and airplanes relies heavily on steel to transport people and goods,
whether overseas or cross-town.
Steel’s incredible strength-to-weight ratio has revolutionized transportation, which continues to improve and innovate all of the time.
We owe every amazing capability from air travel to battleships to this resilient material.
At Pacesetter, we follow automotive trends regarding regulation, energy efficiency, and emerging materials to better
understand how our industries will work together in the future.
3. ENERGY
The energy sector is a constantly shifting, but whether it’s oil or solar, you can bet that steel is critical in the infrastructure. Hydro, wind,
electric and natural gas, and just about any other energy source out there demands steel in construction. So long as energy is in demand
—which for the world to run, it always will be—steel will be a necessary resource.
Even so, things like dropping gas prices (made possible by a natural gas boom in North America) do impact the price of steel. That’s
why we make sure to pay attention to every new shift and trend that comes along in the energy sector and prepare to act and react accordingly.
4. PACKAGING
For about 200 years, steel has been used to package goods and protect them from exposure by water, air, and sunlight. Packaging is a
cold-rolled steel specialty, allowing for high-speed filling and easy opening.
Steel packaging is most common in food and beverages, though you will also find it in general lines and closures such as bottle caps.
5. APPLIANCES
Lastly, your kitchen and entire household almost certainly wouldn’t be the same without steel, which accounts for 75% of the average
household appliance’s weight. Think washer machines, refrigerators, dishwashers, sinks, ovens, and other products vital to the modern home.
It’s clear, then, that Pacesetter has its eye on the road, in the home, in the sky and the sea as we continue to innovate and provide the best
in steel service and delivery. Any and every trend in the aforementioned industries may affect the relationships we have built, just as the steel
market impacts their own day-to-day operations.
At the end of the day, great partnerships and attention to the trends of today and tomorrow are key to keeping the world running the way we’ve carefully built it: like a fine-tuned, steel machine.