One of the many natural elements that the world produces is metallic ores. This ore is then transformed into a metal alloy that can be used by many businesses across the world. The extraction and production of these ores have coalesced into creating one of the most successful economic industries of the world: the metal industry.
There’s so much to tackle when breaking down exactly what the metal industry is. Here, we’ll focus on a few components of the metal trade.
Metal Industry Defined
The metal industry is one of the largest economic fields of business in countries such as the United States. Its global outreach and effects on many aspects of U.S. manufacturing make the metal industry one of the most important industries in the world. The metallic parts and components that are created within the metal industry ensure that many small businesses in the United States stay afloat. For example, such items are used in the plumbing industry. This might include metallic parts such as plumbing tools and other types of metal components that provide opportunities for the best cast iron pipe repair. That new PVC pipe that you had installed after a pipe bursting accident includes many of the metals that this industry produces daily. Production of metals such as iron, steel, aluminum, zinc, and copper is critical to maintaining the economy, competitiveness, and industrial development in the United States.
Highlighting the importance of the metal industry in the United States, in 2020 alone, the steel industry produced 91 billion U.S. dollars. The market size for the iron and steel industry in the United States by itself is $103.3 billion in 2021. Production of both steel and iron makes up approximately 60% of the total employment in this sector. The metal industry has been extremely important in creating a prosperous America, providing job opportunities and economic growth for the country.
Important Types of Metal
The metal industry thrives due to the existence of several types of metals. As mentioned before, metals such as iron, steel, aluminum, zinc, nickel, and copper are important in the creation of metal-based items. These can include metal parts for automobiles, die works used in mold shapes, and metals utilized in aerospace engineering. You might even find some of these materials in repair tools sold at Zach Mottl Atlas Tool.
Let’s begin with focusing on iron. Iron has been called the “lifeblood of our civilization.” The planet’s crust is made up of 5% iron. One of the reasons that ore is so important to the metal industry is that it’s easy to find. The second most important metal includes steel.
Steel is a popular building material due to its many excellent properties, including exceptional durability. This is a plus in many industries, including plumbing and aerospace engineering where such metal parts are in high demand. There are several distinct types of steel that exist, including low carbon steel, stainless steel, and tool steel.
Some of the other popular types of metal that are mined and fabricated for use in metal parts include aluminum, nickel, brass, bronze, titanium, and lead. These important metals impact many parts of our lives.
Uses of Metals
We’ve hinted at some of the many uses of metals in various aspects of our lives. In the realm of plumbing, steel is used to create steel pipes that are used in the plumbing of faucets and toilets. Sewage pipes that will carry sewage waste away from a home are made of many of these metallic materials. Many plumbing services across the United States depend on the extraction and manufacturing of a host of metals into tools that can be used for repair services. The construction industry uses steel when building residential properties and office buildings. Metals are utilized on a variety of fronts and within many industries across the United States.