6 Ways Steel Builds Our Economy

Steel has become one of the most important materials for building things in our economy, providing what we need to create items both large and small. Since the process to make steel was first discovered in the mid-1800s, it has been refined to create metal that has one of the highest strength-to-weight ratios, and can be utilized in an array of versatile ways. People shop at Wasatch Steel for all types of projects, using steel in some of these six ways to build our economy.

Steel Buildings
Construction companies for both commercial and residential property have been building with steel to create everything from the tallest skyscrapers to the homes in your neighborhood. Since steel has both a high tensile strength (a measure of how much force material can withstand before breaking) and a high yield strength (a measure of how much force a material can withstand before it suffers permanent deformation), it is great for creating large, open spaces like the ones commercial building owners want. It also offers a superior level of fire resistance, which makes it ideal for both commercial and residential buildings.

Steel Transportation
The roads, bridges, and railroads that make up our transportation infrastructure are also largely built using steel. Steel forms the backbone for the support structures built underneath major transportation arteries, such as bridges, freeways, and highways. In addition, most vehicles that we use for transportation are made of steel—including ships, cars and trucks, trains, and airplanes. Plus innovations in steel are making mass transit easier, more efficient, and more environmentally-friendly, reducing friction, improving load capacity and passenger comfort, and reducing noise levels and vibration for trains.

Steel Energy
Efforts to improve renewable energy also benefit from the use of steel. From wind turbines to solar panels, steel is making energy from the sun, wind, and water more affordable and within reach than ever.

Steel Manufacturing
If you are in the manufacturing industry, chances are you use steel on a regular basis. You probably have machines and vehicles that are made of steel, and you may even use it to create your products. At Wasatch Steel, we understand that manufacturers are always looking for reliable, strong materials, which is why we have a huge selection of the best steel available for you to choose from.

Steel Design
Artists are always finding creative ways to express their talents, and steel and metalworking provides yet another opportunity to make something beautiful. With an array of shapes, styles, and finishes available, steel makes a great accent in artwork, or can provide the basis for your designs. At Wasatch Steel, artists often find the perfect pieces they need to create a masterpiece.

Steel Connections
Steel is also a critical material in the manufacturing of pipes that connect our world, transporting things from utility companies to our homes and businesses, and bringing raw materials like oil and natural gas from drilling sites around the U.S. into our communities. The strength of steel makes it ideal for building pipes that will last and can withstand pressure, while the lightweight nature of steel makes it an economical choice to reduce carbon emissions during manufacture and transport to the site. With proper coatings, steel pipes can withstand erosion and last for decades to come with very little maintenance and environmental impact.

Steel holds up structures, takes people and goods from place to place, and creating things that we use in our daily lives. It plays a major role in everything we do, and you can find the steel you need for every project at Wasatch Steel.