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10 Questions You Should to Know about High Quality Steel Supply

10 Signs You're Dealing with a Reliable Steel Supplier

Knowing the difference between the best steel suppliers in your area and the worst can mean the difference between resounding long-term success and constant issues, whether you're a one-time customer or a business with a consistent need for steel.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website Nearyz Resources.

Fortunately, it's not difficult to sort the good from the bad when you're looking at steel suppliers, as the best can be expected to meet a certain easily-checked set of criteria. Here are 10 things to look for in a superior steel supply company:

1 Reliable logistics.

Nothing matters more from a supplier, of steel or any other material or good, than the reliability of logistics you can expect in working with them. There should never be any question of a steel supplier obtaining what you need in a timely manner, never a question of how your steel is stored, never a question of how they'll transport the steel to you. If your steel supplier can't keep their logistical house in good order, you can be certain they won't prove any better on any other aspect of their business. Watch the logistics!

2 Extensive and diverse inventory.

Good steel suppliers maintain an inventory which can meet just about any need. If you face a supplier with a limited supply of options trying to convince you to accept 'good enough' solutions, you might want to move on. You want the perfect fit for your needs, not 'what the supplier happens to keep around', so expect more from inventory selections. If they don't have it in storage, sound logistics should make obtaining your needs easy'just don't settle for subpar solutions, no matter how convincing a sales pitch you might hear.

3 Fast response to inquiries.

A superior steel supplier will get back in touch with you in a timely manner'you won't be left hanging indefinitely, forced to make desperate follow-up calls as deadlines loom closer. You could argue that a firm that's too eager for your business might be a red flag, but ultimately no supplier with sound logistics and experienced employees should be dragging their heels on responding to inquiries. If they're not interested enough in your business to get back to you, move on to another steel supplier who takes new customers seriously'even if they do come around eventually, do you want to work with a company too loaded down with high priority customers to respond to you?

4 Knowledgeable sales representatives.

When you reach out to a superior steel supplier, you should expect to be talking with someone who knows steel the same way you know your business. If you can stump the representative a dozen times in as many minutes of discussion, you should be wary of the supplier'sure, you might have an unusual set of needs, or the rep might be a newbie, but it's not a good sign nonetheless. After all, knowledgeable personnel will help set you up with the perfect materials; less knowledgeable ones might 'assist' you right into a major fiasco.

5 Thorough customer support.

Problems aren't completely inevitable, but they're highly probable over a long enough time frame'and you want a supplier that can work with you to resolve those problems quickly and easily. Whether the issue arises in logistics, material quality, payment issues, or any other area, you want a steel supplier with the customer support infrastructure necessary to get you back to work with minimal downtime.

6 Quick turnaround.

If you can't move from inquiry to steel on your doorstep in a very short timeframe, you're not dealing with a superior steel supply company. Fast turnaround is key for any supply business, so it should be a big red flag if your supplier doesn't meet this standard, even if you don't strictly need fast turnaround for your own business. It's one of the first things a lot of businesses will look at in analyzing a supply company, so a failure in this realm suggests major issues across the board'so check the turnaround, whether you need a fast one or not.

7 Rigorous quality control.

Superior steel suppliers don't cause major headaches because they let through a bad batch of steel, or forgot a test, or sent you inappropriately-sized materials. That sort of amateurish quality control simply isn't acceptable, no matter how good a deal you might get'after all, how much money do you stand to lose when something collapses, warps, or misaligns down the line? How much money will you lose on the repairs, the downtime, legal liability, and who knows what other hidden costs? Poor quality control is never acceptable in a steel supplier'there are industries and materials where you can sacrifice QC to get costs down, but steel isn't one of them.

8 Experience.

It might be unfair to new industry entrants, but you generally don't want to work with a fresh-faced steel supplier. A new company is fine, so long as it's helmed by industry veterans, but any business dealing with logistics demands a certain familiarity with the people, laws, shipping lanes, etc., involved. That's the kind of knowledge that comes with experience'it's not written down in an easily digested textbook or guide. So if you want to work with a superior steel supplier, make sure you're working with an experienced one.

9 Connections.

This is closely related to experience, but not all experienced suppliers have the connections they need to thrive. When you have a special need that your supplier can't quite fulfill, the best suppliers have industry contacts they can turn to which will help you get what you need. Having the right connections to make things happen for customers can be considered what separates a good steel supplier from a truly superior one. See who your supplier works with, and you'll understand what they can offer you in a pinch.

10 Modernity.

Be wary of steel suppliers with websites which would have been disappointing in the era of AOL'a failure to modernize across the board should be taken as a symptom of deeper issues. There are simply too many advantages for a modern company, advantages you want you steel supplier to avail themselves of for your benefit as a customer. If they're not using up-to-date logistics solutions, not communicating thoroughly via and mobile, or otherwise feel 'too old'--be wary.

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Sources:

https://www.texasironandmetal.com/

 

The 10 Questions to Ask Your Metal Tube Manufacturer

As a purchasing agent, sourcing the best-priced steel tube components that go into creating a product is your job. However, an experienced agent knows it takes more than accepting the lowest bid from potential tube manufacturers to get what the engineer needs.

Below, we've compiled 10 of the best questions to ask to get the critical information you need. Each comes from lessons learned and relationships built over the 45 years we've been in business as a steel tube manufacturer. 

1. What type of industries do you typically work with?

According to IndustrySelect, an industrial research database, there are 414 steel tube and pipe manufacturers in the US to choose from. Most of these companies are relatively small metal foundries and are likely to have a highly-targeted focus on a family of products or niche industries.

It's important to know where their experience lies. The oil and gas industry happens to be one of the major consumers for many of these manufacturers. Still, as a report from Grand View Research suggests, other industries also rely on tube manufacturing.

Knowing what industries and applications a manufacturer regularly produces tubes for will speak directly to their skill.

 2. What type of tubes have you produced?

Every foundry will also have certain expertise based on their most frequent customer tube request. Finding a foundry that's produced the type of tube you need regularly means they're easily set up for it.

And experience in manufacturing tubes similar to your own means there is no costly learning curve, and communication will be clear.

Andy Ruble, a Metallurgist at Spuncast, advises purchasing agents to find a tube manufacturer that has the experience needed but also the capacity to be flexible. 

'Because we produce tubing for so many different industries, we often have a die or a mold that will work on-site, and if we don't have the exact length they're after, we may be able to use the dies we have and cut off the extra,' he said.

It's that type of flexibility that is especially important for creating tubing where there is a tight budget but still very specific dimensions. 

3. Is there a minimum order quantity?

Steel tube manufacturers balance and prioritize their production runs. And some require a minimum order quantity (MOQ), so you'll want to make sure your order sizes can get their highest level of service.

Greg Whitman, VP of Sales and Engineering at Spuncast, cautioned against using a tube manufacturer who isn't able to handle small orders. 

'Regardless of whether or not it's a hundred-piece job or a one-piece job, at Spuncast, each tube has an individual serial number and it still has to go through each operation individually,' Greg said. 'We'll give the same level of detail to each cast product.'

Spuncast has no minimum or maximum order quantity and is often budget-friendly because of the efficiency of the centrifugal casting process.

4. Do you provide quotes, and what is included?

The purpose of a request for a quote (RFQ) is to make sure the solution can be bought within your budget. However, with a specialized service like steel tube manufacturing, there are more things to consider other than the price. Consider offerings such as:

  • Value-added services

  • Certified metal testing

  • Reliable, on-time delivery

  • A solid, parts warranty

The consequence of an RFQ that doesn't take into account the entire project including the items listed above can't truly deliver to your specification.

Ensuring the manufacturer knows exactly what you want is the best way to get an accurate price quote.

Many manufacturers ask you to provide an initial RFQ to get the ball rolling. They are looking for information like:

  • Project/part description

  • Finishing sizes

  • Alloy grade

  • Quantity

  • Type of casting

That will give the engineer enough information to put together some options. From there, they should then contact you for further details so your quote will be accurate and specific to your project.

5. Where's the material from, and what is available in-house?

While 11% of all manufacturers import raw materials, this percentage jumps to 21% for steel tubes and pipe makers.

It's an important consideration because, with ongoing disruptions to the global supply chains, including steel tariffs, there is an increased cost for imported raw materials. A manufacturer who gets their material domestically offers some real stability.

They should also provide a large and varied selection of readily available materials. If they don't have a reliable way to do that, delays and mismatches are inevitable.

For more High Quality Steel Supplyinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.

'It's important to our customers that we're able to meet their material demand, which is why we have over 30 national raw material suppliers that we can rely on for sourcing nearly all steel grades, cobalt, and nickel base alloys,' said Greg.

Finding a foundry that can accommodate your material selection and in some cases even suggest cost-saving alternatives maximizes efficiency and shortens the supply chain. 

6. What is the turnaround time?

A tube's turnaround time may vary depending on your part's application requirements. Therefore your manufacturer must be able to work directly with your engineers and know what it takes to keep the project moving forward.

Direct questions to ask a potential manufacturer about this include:

  • What is the standard turnaround time for similar projects?

  • Can they put a rush on certain projects? If so, how?

  • How do they communicate status updates?

The right responses help you plan your project and strengthen the partnership between you and your tube manufacturer.

'Look for your tube request being delivered anywhere from four weeks for fairly straightforward requests up to around 12 weeks for those requests that are more involved,' Greg said.

He said the timing relies on a few things including:

  • Amount of setup required

  • Material availability

  • Engineering involvement

  • Part complexity

  • Testing requirements

  • Secondary processes requests

7. What value-added capabilities do you offer?

Some steel tube manufacturers provide a complete turnkey solution that includes value-added services your part may need.

Turnkey manufacturing is ideal for projects with highly-specific requirements that must be carefully monitored for overall quality. It's why onsite secondary treatments like heat treating and machining are such a benefit.

Most tube manufacturers can provide additional processes to meet the overall finishing requirements of your tube part, but often the tube is taken off site. 

A tube moved from one facility to another can mean more expense and possible disruption to your schedule.

'Our secondary processes allow us to achieve the type of mechanical properties, corrosion resistance, and tight dimensional and surface control that a tube needs,' Greg said. 'And with it all available in-house, we can save our customers the hassle of working with another vendor.'

This video shows the efficiency of a new CNC machine and the importance of keeping up with the technologies to produce a better product.

8. Do you offer certified metal testing?

You may already know what grade metal you need for your part. But to ensure your direction is followed and your choice is accurate for the application, it's often advisable to have it tested, especially if the manufacturer is new to you.

A material test report (MTR) provides traceability and assurance that the quality of your material and the process used to produce it is what you have requested.

A MTR typically includes:

  • ASTM and/or ASME standards compliance

  • Specific size, shape, and/or diameter specifications

  • Chemical and physical properties specifications

Knowledge of metallurgy and materials plus an understanding of the overall need of the material itself is essential. This is why a qualified metallurgist should do the test. 

9. How do you ensure quality control and industry standards?

If quality is your focus, then you'll want to have a nationally located manufacturer. Overseas suppliers may have competitive prices, but they are usually low for a reason.

Because steel tubes and pipes are products that need to meet strict performance requirements,  adherence to industry standards and quality control is critical.

At a minimum, check for an ISO certification which should be listed on their website. It's a standard that represents a strong customer focus and stresses a process approach with continual improvement.

Beyond that, experienced tubing manufacturers will have a range of certifications that can be checked. Look for ones like:

  • ABS (American Bureau of Shipping) 

  • PED (Pressure Equipment Directive) 

  • ANSI (American National Standards Institute) 

  • AISC (American Institute of Steel Construction)

The better tubing manufacturers will also continually invest in new equipment, training, and development and not shy away from shop inspections. You'll want to ensure:  

  1. They're using the latest CAD/CAM software 

  2. Their machinery is clean and well maintained 

  3. The engineers are up on the latest metal standards

  4. Initial and in-process inspections are in place

A tube manufacturer's investment in those areas can enhance precision and further quality assurance. It's also an indication that they are committed to staying up with the latest requirements of their industries.

10. What type of warranty do you offer?

Most manufacturers stand by their work, but many don't talk about a warranty. For you, it should  be a crucial consideration because if an issue develops after your product has left the manufacturing facility, you'll want to know there's some type of recourse.

It's typical for a manufacturer to guarantee the material they produce against defects. Such defects are usually found upon receipt of the product or during secondary processing. 

However, a warranty for your steel tube part should apply beyond that and speak directly to the application where it will be used. For example, if the part will be used in a bridge structure you'll want a tube that can hold up to the weather ' corrosion resistance, wind adherence, etc.

Look for a lifetime warranty that offers you the assurance that the manufacturer takes your product as seriously as you do.

Don't Forget About Customer Service

Your project goal will always focus on the accuracy and functionality of your design. But, regardless of the quality of the design, you need a manufacturer who understands your industry and can provide the customer service you deserve.

At the very least, you should expect:

  • Frequent visits from a knowledgeable engineer:

    as opposed to a manufacturer rep that only visits twice a year and has no real tech knowledge. 

  • Low or no-cost prototyping:

    this can ensure your design has true repeatability and will perform as expected.

  • Ongoing communication and accountability:

    your relationship should start from the moment you make an inquiry and continue throughout the lifetime of your part.

When you're ready to meet a manufacturer who has the answers you need for your product, and can offer you the service you're after, we'd love to hear from you. 

We're specialists in centrifugal casting ' the methodology that consistently delivers steel tubes with strength, purity, and cost-efficiency. 

Contact us to discuss your requirements of Hot Rolled Steel Plate Suppliers. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

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