| Custom Steel Work - Many manufacturers offer | | | | along with working with a foreign manufacturer, |
| custom cutting and remanufacturing of pipes or | | | | which are trust, reliability, communication differences |
| tubing that needs to be modified in order to meet | | | | and others. |
| certain standards. Some large mills are unable to do | | | | Finding a Steel Manufacturer Online - There are |
| custom work but smaller ones, usually can. | | | | various directories that list steel manufacturers |
| Types of Services Available - An average sized steel | | | | throughout the US. It is usually a time consuming |
| manufacturer should be able to offer such services | | | | process to contact each manufacturer through email |
| as shot blasting, cutting, heat treating, fabrication, | | | | or over the phone in order to narrow down your |
| testing and steel straightening. | | | | selection to manufacturers who are able and willing to |
| Minimum Orders - Larger manufacturers may have | | | | work with you. |
| minimum order requirements, but smaller companies | | | | Materials - There are various material options when |
| usually do not and are able to work with your more | | | | working with a steel manufacturer. There are alloys, |
| intensely on just a few products or design changes. | | | | stainless steel, carbon steel and other exotic steel |
| Foreign vs. Domestic - Foreign steel products, | | | | materials. To reduce costs, consider using other, |
| although lower priced and currently having minimal | | | | cheaper types of steel. Talk to the manufacturer and |
| tariffs, will still have additional shipping costs added to | | | | see what your options are. |
| the price. There also are the inherent risks that go | | | | |