Cold-rolled steel comprises a significant sector of the steel industry. In data gathered by IndustryNet, on 275 steel companies, 32 (11.64 percent) produce cold-rolled steel.
Of the 31,610 jobs provided by steel companies, 4.541 (14.36 percent) are with manufacturers of cold-rolled steel.
Jobs in cold-rolled steel have taken a slight dip of 0.68 percent over the last year. Average sales were $4.5 billion. Financial markets are reflecting optimism that these numbers will rise.
Hot-rolled steel is roll pressed at temperatures over 1,700 degrees Fahrenheit. It is further processed into cold-rolled steel by undergoing additional compression between rollers.
This extra step forms a product that has the following desirable characteristics:
• Smooth surfaces with closer tolerances.
• A higher definition in edges and corners of bars.
• Enhanced concentric uniformity and straightness when made into tubes.
Cold-rolled steel finds many uses in the construction industry. It is also a component of such diverse products as metal furniture, motorcycle exhaust pipes, lawn mowers, water heaters and frying pans.
Industry trends
Though traditionally thought of as a smokestack industry, steel manufacturing is becoming more committed to sustainability. ArcelorMittal USA, the parent company of I/N Tek, a leading cold-rolled steel producer, has implemented 38 energy-saving programs and continually works toward minimizing the environmental effects of its operations. Another leader, Niagara LaSalle Corporation, is heavily involved with recycling of steel for the reduction of both waste and energy usage.
Big River Steel LLC, an additional leading cold-rolled steel company, began expanding its plant in Osceola, Arkansas, in 2017, anticipating a market in autonomous vehicles and advanced steels.
The company has planned for a multiyear growth in capacity but will be moving up its timeline if market conditions are favorable.
Steel tariffs that were implemented June 1, 2018, may encourage the acceleration of this and similar projects by domestic steel producers. The following cold-rolled steel producers highlight the potential for growth in this sector.
Top 10 companies by number of employees
• Specialty Steel Works, Inc. in Hammond, Indiana, operates four wholly owned subsidiaries including a tube and pipe company. They employ a skilled workforce of 800 and have sophisticated equipment to produce high-quality products. The company enjoys a global reputation.
• USS-POSCO Industries in Pittsburg, California, prides itself not only on its products but also on providing the best possible customer service. They strive to ensure quality and reliability from an initial quotation through the final invoice. A staff of 640 dedicates itself to filling customer's orders on time and precisely to specification.
• I/N Tek, in New Carlisle, Indiana, supplies steel to the U.S. automotive industry for car doors and fenders. Their products are also used in washers, dryers and file cabinets. This company provides 520 jobs.
• Big River Steel, LLC in Osceola, Arkansas, produces the Flex Mill™ brand of products. The Flex Mill facility began operation in 2017 and produced 1.3 million tons that year, almost reaching its 1.6-million-ton capacity.
The company expects the technologies of self-driving vehicles and electrical steels to converge and hopes to be a significant supplier in both markets. Big River employs 440 workers.
• ESMARK Steel Group is the place to find high-quality panel steel in Chicago Heights, Illinois. This innovative company uses advanced equipment to produce laser-flat sheets. ESMARK's state-of-the-art facility has 315 highly skilled members in its workforce.
• Worthington Industries, Inc. (Columbus, Ohio) headquarters maintain a staff of 250. They are the leading global supplier of pressure tanks and cylinders.
• Worthington Industries, Inc. (Rome, New York) is a cold-rolled steel division that employs 150 workers. The company serves agriculture, construction, energy, government and industrial markets. It is a multibillion-dollar company, listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
• Worthington Industries, Inc. (Cleveland, Ohio) has a staff of 150 employees. They manufacture a host of pressure cylinders products for both cryogenic and industrial gas applications.
• Corey Steel Company was founded in 1924. Its 600,000 square-foot facility in Cicero, Illinois, provides 200 jobs to the Chicago metropolitan area. The company is ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 14001:2004 registered.
• Niagara LaSalle Corp in Hammond, Indiana, has 150 employees who recycle any scrap left from their processes, minimizing the company's impact on the environment. Its brands include Stress Proof®, Fatigue Proof® and e.t.d.150®.
Find your cold-rolled steel supplier
IndustryNet maintains up-to-date information on over 420,000 manufacturers and suppliers. Use of this free online resource enables customers to obtain lists of vendors by capabilities and location. Potential purchasers can readily request a quote and contact steel producers and distributors directly or through social media.
