In today’s urban landscape, skyscrapers tower increasingly higher. Whether you live in Paris or Cleveland, the need for material to withstand the load and other factors is a basic requirement for building such tall structures. While iron was the original metal of choice in the 1700s, the modern preference is for structural steel. Fabrication of this metal in the late 19th and early 20th centuries was responsible for the rise (pun intended) of skyscrapers.
Popularity of Structural Steel
In the United States, structural steel has cornered the market for both multistory residential and non-residential construction. It accounts for approximately 49% of all such structural components. The only material that comes even close is concrete at around 30%. Customers for structural steel include a wide array of industrial structures. The largest percentage includes the following groups:
* Open-air stadiums
* Processing and chemical plants,
* Power plants
* Petroleum refineries
According to 2013 statistics, these demand 38 % of the market while another 23% goes to various applications that are nonstructural in character. A list of such applications consists of various rack systems as well as trailers and even mobile homes.
Structural Steel Fabrication Shops
At one point, the fabrication of structural steel production occurred in large plants and manufacturing concerns. Today, fabrication shops in Cleveland and around the globe tend to be smaller. This does not diminish their competitiveness or capabilities. It is merely a reflection of changing economic times and the application of technology to reduce the need for larger facilities and considerable staffing.
The smaller shops are capable of handling both large and small jobs. Larger firms once handled only huge projects. They depended enormously on a constant stream of such work to maintain staff of hundreds. On the other hand, smaller fabrication shops can handle a varied range of jobs. They can also specialize. Custom metal fabrication is one way smaller shops can not only survive but also thrive – something not feasible in the older large concerns.
Structural Steel Fabrication Shops Today
Today’s fabrication shop can shift direction. The latest model of an older craft can handle large and small jobs. It can specialize by accepting custom fabrication jobs. Overall, the current form of shop is more adaptable and versatile than the original shops. While the metal may still be structural steel fabrication services in cities such as Cleveland are no longer trapped by an unyielding size or business model that is not able to adapt to change in technology and processes quickly and efficiently.
