This section provides an overview for steel as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 22 steel manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked steel companies as of November, 2024: 1.DELIXIN STEEL CO., LTD, 2.JFE Steel America, Inc., 3.Nucor.
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Categories Related to Steel
Steel is a general term for steel materials that are composed primarily of iron and used in all industrial fields.
No steel material is composed of 100% iron, and chemical components such as carbon, nitrogen, and chromium are added to steel to give it strength, wear, and temperature resistance. The most common types of steel are SS (rolled steel for general structural purposes), SN (rolled steel for building construction), and SM (rolled steel for welded structures). SUS material (stainless steel), to which 10.5% or more of chromium is added to iron, is highly resistant to rust.
Steel is used in many familiar products, such as home appliances and automobiles. Steel materials have various requirements in terms of strength, temperature, conductivity, corrosion resistance, wear resistance, machinability, toughness, etc. Steel materials are manufactured to meet these requirements through processing methods, the ratio of chemical components added to the steel, and heat treatment.
When manufactured from steel stones by metal material manufacturers, they are formed into bar shapes such as H-shaped steel, I-shaped steel, and C-shaped steel, which are then sold as material shapes. These are used as building materials for bridges and other structures. In addition, tubular shapes are also available. Plate-shaped steel is also available for use as sheet metal for elevator walls and other thin sheets.
The chemical composition of steel is composed of the following five elements:
The addition of carbon will increase the strength of steel by increasing tensile strength and hardness. It also improves hardenability, but too much carbon can reduce toughness.
Added as an oxygen absorber, Si can increase yield point and tensile strength without affecting toughness and elongation capacity. However, excessive additions can lead to brittle breakdown (embrittlement).
Manganese is added as a de-sulfurizing agent and improves hardenability, thereby increasing yield point and tensile strength without impairing toughness.
Phosphorus (P) is considered an impurity generated during steel refining, and is a substance that reduces strength, such as toughness and tensile strength. On the other hand, it has the effect of improving machinability, but basically, its content should be kept as low as possible.
Like phosphorus, sulfur is treated as an impurity that reduces strength and weldability, so its content should generally be kept as low as possible. On the other hand, when combined with manganese, it acts as a chip breaker that moderately breaks up thread-like chips. Therefore, it may be added in appropriate amounts to improve machinability.
These five elements are collectively referred to as the five elements of steel, and since a significantly high content of any one element can adversely affect strength, the balance of content is adjusted according to the location and application where the steel is used to refine the steel to the right material for the right purpose. In addition, since the properties of steel also vary depending on how the steel is heat treated, adjustments must be made in consideration of the properties after heat treatment.
As representative examples of steel types, the following three types of steel have the following characteristics.
There are four types: SS330, SS400, SS490, and SS540. The numbers represent the lower limit of tensile strength. The chemical composition is determined by the amount of C, Mn, P, and S. SS400 is the most widely distributed and widely used.
There are five types of steel: SN400A, B, C and SN490B, C. SN400A, B, C and SN490B, C are used as structural materials for buildings and construction. It is intended to be used as a structural material for architecture and construction, and indexes for seismic resistance and weldability are determined. In order to ensure plastic deformation capacity, upper limits for yield ratio and yield point are specified.
There are 11 types of SM materials, and the chemical composition of C, Si, Mn, P, and S is determined. SM materials are called Killed Steel (or Semi-Killed Steel) and are characterized by their lower oxygen content compared with SS materials.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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JFE Steel America, Inc., a subsidiary of JFE Steel Corporation and established in 1994, is located in North Kingstown, Rhode Island, and is a manufacturer and supplier of flat-rolled steel products. Their product offerings include galvanized steel with a zinc coating for corrosion protection, cold-rolled steel with improved strength and smoother surface, hot-rolled steel used for beams, plates, and bars, stainless steel resistant to corrosion and high temperatures, and alloy steel with enhanced strength, toughness, and corrosion resistance. JFE Steel America's products find applications in diverse industries like construction, automotive, and manufacturing.
Nucor Corporation is a manufacturer of steel and steel products. It is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, and was established in 1905. The company manufacturers and produces steel and a range of steel products, including merchant bars and rebars, engineered bars, structural and carbon steel plates, sheet steel products and technologies. Some of its popular products are steel beams, steel plates, and steel tubes. Nucor also provides Scrap processing and brokerage and its products are used in various industries, including construction, automotive, and manufacturing.
North Shore Steel (NSS), founded in 1955, is an American manufacturer based in Houston, Texas, specializing in metal processing. The company offers processing services encompassing plate cutting, forming, and rolling, computer numerical control (CNC) machining, structural steel processing, as well as American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)-standard and nondestructive examination (NDE) welding. It also provides structural steel and carbon steel plate products. The company serves various industries, including aerospace, military, oil and gas, as well as commercial and offshore fabrication. It also caters to industries like heat exchangers, mining and rock quarries, pressure vessels, as well as refinery and chemical plants.
MORY INDUSTRIES INC., established in 1929 and based in Osaka, Japan, is a manufacturer and supplier specializing in stainless steel products. The company's product portfolio includes stainless steel flat bars and round bars, welded carbon steel tubes, tube cutting machines, welded stainless steel pipes and tubes, as well as processed stainless steel tubing products. These products are applicable in various industries, including healthcare, aerospace, automotive, pharmaceuticals, and other sectors. The company holds the JIS Q 14001:2015, ISO 14001:2015, JIS Q 9001:2015, and ISO 9001:2015 certifications for environmental and quality management.
Nippon Seisen, established in 1951 and headquartered in Osaka, Japan, is a manufacturer of stainless steel wires and metal fibres. The company's main products are types of stainless steel wires including spring wires, micro wires, shaft wires and cold heading wires which are applied to vehicles, air crafts, office automation appliances, electric appliances, medical instruments, commodities and leisure goods. It also offers high alloy titanium wires and metal fibres under the brand name NALSON used for cushioning materials, heat resistance and anti-static application.
Yodogawa Steel Works, Ltd., a company founded in 1935 and headquartered in Osaka, Japan, is a manufacturer and supplier of steel products. The company's product portfolio includes polished steel sheets, cast iron rolls, cast steel rolls, household utensils, and residential equipment. These products have applications in various sectors, including construction, consumer goods, automotive, real estate development, and various other industries. The company's factories and plants are ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified, with offices in Thailand, China, and Taiwan for global expansion.
SANYO SPECIAL STEEL Co., Ltd. was founded in 1935 and is a manufacturer and supplier of various steel products based in Himeji, Hyogo, Japan. The company produces steel based products such as rolled steel, cut rings, bimetallic steel materials, metal powders, and steel bars. The products are used and applied in various industries such as automobiles, industrial machines, plants, and manufactures. The company has obtained ISO 14001 certification for environmental management system and enacted policies to reduce CO2 emissions from the business.
Aichi Steel Corporation, established in Tokai, Aichi, in 1934, is a manufacturer engaged in special steels and materials for the Toyota Group. The company's product range includes Steel Bars and Rods, Structural Steel,Steel Pipes and Tubes. The company also manufactures materials other than steel, such as stainless steel, titanium and magnetic materials. In 2011 the company developed a magnet production technology using MAGFINE powder with 30% less alloy and established the Silicon Valley Office in the USA.
Daido Steel Co., Ltd., originally founded in 1916 in Japan, is a manufacturer of alloy and tool steels. The company offers a wide range of products that include mechanical construction steels, superalloys used in engine components, welding wires, alloy powders, and permalloy foil. Daido Steel Co., Ltd.'s specialty steel products are used in the automotive parts, industrial machinery parts, electrical machinery parts, and welding markets. The company has diversified to include businesses in real estate, insurance, and the provision of welfare services and has expanded operations outside of Japan in North America, Asia, and Europe.
Meidi steel, based in Shandong, China, is a manufacturer of stainless steel materials. The company handles the production and processing of carbon steel materials, as well as direct sales to customers. Its main products include stainless steel pipe, bar, plate, coil, tube and other alloys. These products are primarily utilised in railways, tunnels, highways and water conservancy engineering. The company also supplies its materials to China water resources and hydropower engineering, railway engineering and traffic engineering companies.
Permanent Steel Manufacturing Co., Ltd., established in 2004, is an Chinese manufacturer based in Changsha, Hunan, specializing in carbon steel pipe, hollow sections, and piping equipment. The company offers various types of carbon steel pipes, ranging from electric resistance welded (ERW) and longitudinal submerged arc welding (LSAW) to spiral submerged arc welded (SSAW) steel pipes. It also provides stainless steel (SS) pipes, encompassing seamless and welded variants. Furthermore, the company provides hollow sections, comprising rectangular and square stainless steel tubes, alongside ERW rectangular and square tubes. The company also supplies other products including pipe fittings, piping spools, cable protectors, and coatings.
Porteret Beaulieu Industrie S.A., founded in 1980, is a French manufacturer based in Bézouotte, Bourgogne, providing high-temperature insulation solutions. The company's product range includes millboards made from refractory ceramic fibers in various thicknesses and densities to suit different insulation requirements. It also offers high-temperature textiles woven from ceramic fibers, commonly used for requiring high-temperature resistance, such as heat shields, welder blankets, and sleeves. Pre-formed insulation shapes and customized solutions are also available for specific industrial applications. These insulation solutions find applications in various industries, including aluminum, glass, and steel manufacturing.
TOKUSHU KINZOKU EXCEL Co. Ltd. is an ISO 9001-certified manufacturer of precision metal materials that was established in 1940 in Tokyo, Japan. The company produces various performance alloys designed for flexibility, durability, or magnetism. These include electrical heating alloys, soft magnetic iron steel, and shape memory alloys. The company also offers contract manufacturing for custom or industry-specific material orders. It primarily serves clients in the aerospace, digital consumer products, and semiconductor manufacturing sectors.
Eastern Steel Manufacturing Co.,Ltd, located in Changsha, China, is a manufacturer and distributor of steel tubular products. The company's range of products includes seamless steel pipe, welded steel pipe, OCTG products, valves, and fittings, which caters to industries such as oil and gas, construction, water supply, power, generation, and agriculture. Its products find application in oil and gas pipelines, structural support, and automotive components due to their robustness and corrosion resistance, cost-effective solutions in construction, water supply, and wastewater systems.
Nippon Steel Corporation is based in Tokyo, Japan, and is an ISO 9001-certified manufacturer of steel production materials and steel products established in 1970 following the merger of Yawata Iron & Steel and Fuji Iron & Steel. The company produces steel parts for industrial projects, flat or wire steel products, and steel plates. It also offers chemicals used for metal treatment, including carbon materials, coal tar, and coke. The company also provides plant construction and engineering services for its clients in the energy distribution, shipbuilding, and railway sectors.
Delta Steel are manufacturers of components for industrial fabricators, with its headquarters located in Houston, Texas. The company commenced its operations in 1963. 2008 Reliance Steel & Aluminium bought the company, becoming a Metal Service Center Institute (MSCI) member. The firm represents a transformative development in the field of wholesale distribution. Primarily, the company engages in the production of steel and its associated pre-production processes. The company manufactures carbon structural steel products, encompassing structural tubes and beams, angles, channels, and other items, plates, flats, pipes, rounds, sheet goods, and expanded metals.
Triple-S Steel Supply is a supplier of steel products, established in 1960 and based in Houston, United States of America. The company procures structural steel products like flat bars, metal building components, round, square and rectangular tubing, as well as round and square bars. It also supplies fabrication accessories such as handrail and stair components, paint and abrasives, forged and cast steel, and fasteners. It currently has several branches across the United States from Arizona to Georgia.
Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | DELIXIN STEEL CO., LTD |
11.1%
|
2 | JFE Steel America, Inc. |
8.6%
|
3 | Nucor |
7.4%
|
4 | NORTH SHORE STEEL |
7.4%
|
5 | Shandong Rigang Steel Co.,Ltd. |
6.2%
|
6 | Triple-S Steel Supply |
6.2%
|
7 | Reid Supply |
4.9%
|
8 | Nippon Seisen |
4.9%
|
9 | PBI |
3.7%
|
10 | Shandong Rigang Metal Products Co., Ltd. |
3.7%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the steel page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
Japan | 8 | 47.1% |
China | 5 | 29.4% |
United States of America | 4 | 23.5% |