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How Metal Fabrication Helps Increase Steel ROI

For those in any industrial field, the last couple years have provided some stress points when it comes to metals like steel and aluminum. While steel costs have stabilized a bit in 2019, large tariffs on imported steel and aluminum in 2017 and 2018 meant that manufacturers had to take more care to improve their return on investment when dealing with these metals, steel in particular.

At Cypress Metals, our sheet metal fabrication and other custom metal design services will help you assess every detail of the process and bring back a strong ROI for all steel-related projects. Let’s go over a few ROI-related areas many manufacturers are focused on, plus how our processes help streamline things for you in these areas.

metal fabrication increase steel ROI

Descaling Issues

In areas where you have to store steel for long periods of time, one of the issues that sometimes comes up is the formation of oxide scale on steel surfaces, sometimes minor but occasionally significant levels as well. These oxides can damage the qualities of steel, opening it up to risks of corrosion or weakness that manufacturers can’t afford.

Luckily, full-service metal fabricators are qualified to assist with this sort of thing. This is done in a process called descaling, which involves pickling applications and heat combined, then scrubbing that helps remove the sludge areas. Finally, descaling involves rinsing and finishing the steel in nitric-hydrofluoric acid.

Galvanization

In many situations, we’ll even help you ward off these oxidization issues before they ever form in the first place. This is through one of a few processes, the most common of which is hot-dip galvanization – a process that creates a zinc layer around the entire steel surface, making it resistant to corrosion at every point, even edges and crevices.

Hot-dip galvanization is often a huge benefit in terms of steel-related ROI. It can increase steel value in several ways:

  • Allowing for outdoor construction due to resistance to corrosion or weather.
  • Preparing for utility uses like electrical transmission towers or similar areas.
  • Protecting stairs, ladders and other industrial areas from wear and damage over time.
  • Preventing embrittlement due to age, including the kind that can crack steel over a long enough period of exposure.
  • Limiting damage due to friction on various working components.

Welding Measures

In addition to dealing with oxidization, welding is a vital part of steel ROI. The right welding techniques must be applied before hot-dip galvanization to avoid cracking of the zinc or other negative reactions if this process isn’t don in the right order. Welding QC areas that will help add ROI to your steel include:

  • Ensuring matching thickness for the zinc coating from hot-dip galvanization, so long as the welding is done before the galvanizing process.
  • Post-galvanization techniques that will remove zing from welds and weld zones while protecting the surface area from corrosion.
  • “Push” welding techniques are preferred over “pull” techniques, allowing for a flatter bead and better penetration qualities.

For more on how metal fabrication services will help raise your steel project ROI, or to learn about any of our metal fab or laser cutting services, speak to the staff at Cypress Metals today.