hot rolled steel Archives - National Material Company

8 08, 2024

The Role of the Steel Service Center for OEMs

joe2024-08-21T19:50:57+00:00August 8th, 2024|News Blog|

For companies that make original equipment (OEMs), finding the best materials is more than just important — it gives them an edge over others. Steel service centers for OEMs, like National Material Company (NMC), are essential. They ensure OEMs get the best steel that fits their needs, helping them work better, make more profit, and improve operations.

Steel service centers like NMC bridge the gap between steel mills and OEMs, offering precision cutting, slitting, and processing. This partnership allows OEMs to focus on core activities while trusting service centers for consistent, ready-to-use materials. This blog explores the role of a steel service center for OEMs, highlighting how NMC streamlines operations, improves product quality, and reduces costs.

What Does it Mean to Be an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM)?

An original equipment manufacturer (OEM) produces parts or components that another company incorporates into its products, which are then sold under that company’s brand. OEMs are common in industries such as automotive and computing.

For example, a branded laptop might source processors or memory modules from an OEM. OEMs typically produce parts for value-added resellers (VARs), focusing on manufacturing rather than the final product design.

Historically, OEMs have sold primarily to other businesses rather than directly to consumers. However, some OEMs now also sell parts directly for consumer repairs.

What are Alternatives to OEM Parts?

Ensuring a steady supply of cost-effective spare parts is critical for any manufacturing operation. Managing spare parts inventory represents a significant and inevitable cost for companies utilizing industrial machinery.

While OEMs might be the go-to for all necessary spares and components, the market offers other alternatives such as OE, ODM, and aftermarket parts.

OE Components:

Produced by a different company but meet the same factory standards as OEM parts.

ODM (Original Design Manufacturer):

An original design manufacturer (ODM) is distinct from an OEM. ODMs create products based on a client’s specifications, which the client then sells under their brand. ODMs have less design leeway than OEMs because they work within client-provided specifications. However, this model benefits from reduced R&D costs, lowering consumer prices.

Aftermarket:

While OEMs produce original equipment, aftermarket manufacturers create products compatible with OEM parts. In essence, aftermarket parts are non-original replacements made by companies — either local or international — without the authorization of the original manufacturers. These parts are often less expensive but may not guarantee the same level of performance as OEM products.

What are the Advantages of Purchasing OEM Products?

• Superior quality: OEM products, crafted by the original creators, offer unmatched quality compared to alternatives. The premium price reflects their superior construction.

• Longevity: Built to last, OEM products, such as spare tires, ensure the material’s quality and durability.

• Extended service life: OEM components generally have a longer service life […]

8 07, 2024

Why Use Steel in Agricultural Heavy Machinery

jane2024-08-20T23:10:07+00:00July 8th, 2024|News Blog, NMC Media|

The advent of metalworking marked a significant transformation. It introduced tools that revolutionized farming practices. Agricultural heavy machinery, such as iron plows, effortlessly cut through tough soil, enhancing productivity and enabling the establishment of stable communities. This revolution in steel in agricultural heavy machinery laid the groundwork for technological advancements that eventually led to the creation of skyscrapers and smartphones.

In contemporary agriculture, while tractors and combines might seem vastly different from early iron plows, they share a fundamental element: steel. However, today’s agriculture depends on specialized steels designed to endure harsh conditions, optimize efficiency, and reduce costs.

This is where National Material Company (NMC) comes in, providing high-quality steel to support these advancements and ensure the durability and efficiency of modern agricultural machinery.

Steel: The Backbone of Modern Farming

With its unmatched strength and versatility, steel has become the backbone of modern agricultural heavy machinery. Unlike its wooden or iron predecessors, steel in agricultural heavy machinery can handle the most challenging jobs – withstanding heavy loads, resisting impacts, and enduring constant vibrations season after season. This translates to reliable performance, fewer breakdowns, and maximized productivity for your farm.

Beyond Strength: Unveiling Steel’s Advantages

Steel provides more than mere strength. Its versatility facilitates the production of precise components. Significantly enhancing the efficiency of agricultural machinery. This includes everything from intricate gears in a tractor transmission to the cutting blades of a harvester.

Moreover, steel’s adaptability is a remarkable advantage. With techniques like welding and forming, manufacturers can create innovative designs with features that make your life easier. Examples include foldable components for easier transport and modular systems that can be adjusted to meet diverse field requirements.

Steel’s Resilience: Standing Up to the Elements

It is evident that agricultural equipment must endure inclement conditions. Constant exposure to moisture, harsh chemicals, and fluctuating weather poses significant challenges. This is where the corrosion resistance of steel becomes crucial. When combined with protective coatings such as galvanized or hot-dipped galvanized steel, it effectively resists rust and oxidation. This not only prolongs the lifespan of the equipment but also results in substantial savings on repair costs.

Steel and Sustainability: Partners for a Greener Future

The importance of sustainability in agriculture is growing, and steel contributes to addressing this concern. Modern high-strength steel alloys are lighter and more fuel-efficient than older materials, meaning your equipment burns less fuel and reduces emissions. Plus, steel is 100% recyclable. The steel from your equipment can be recycled at the end of its life to produce new products, reducing environmental impact.

Next, let’s explore the different types of steel in agricultural equipment, […]

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 […]

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