Steel is used in a wide variety of ways on a daily basis. Some may not realize what life would be like if we didn’t have it. Steel is a combination of many metals and the process of casting steel was invented by Henry Bessemer in 1856.

There are 3,000 varieties of steels. China is one of the largest steel producers. It is manufactured in two main ways. They are electric arc furnace (EAF) and the most popular integrated route. The integrated route involves recycled steel.

There are 5 main steps in the steelmaking process. They are, respectively, making iron, making steel, casting, rough rolling, and product rolling. The first step is to convert the ore into liquid iron. The next step is the process of converting iron to steel. In the foundry, the steel solidifies. In rough rolling, also known as billet rolling, block sizes are reduced. Finally, the blocks are shaped, which is called product rolling.

Steel is a specialized industry and requires specific skills. A local steel fabricator can offer custom projects and have access to the necessary steel supplies to complete the job. His projects cover a variety of areas for both home and commercial needs. Below are just a few of the many areas where their services are helpful.

Without steel, the construction of our everyday buildings and homes would be very different. Steel supplies us with steel wires, nails and tubes.

In our offices, it’s the reason we have rulers, USB drives, clipboards, pens, and pencil sharpeners.

Medical devices that are probably taken for granted would not be possible without the equipment that steelmaking has allowed us to enjoy. Microscopes to aid in medical and scientific discoveries, various types of needles, and dental equipment would be impossible without steel.

What would kitchens be like without steel? What would it be like to eat? What would our houses be like? The steel industry provides wire whisks, spoons and forks, and corkscrews to name a few. Without steel, there would be no irons.

Could you begin to imagine that you still have to walk everywhere or have domestic transportation? This is where we would be without cars, trains, bridges, and planes. The types of luxury transportation we enjoy are due in large part to the production of steel.

Of course, Gen Y would just be pulling their hair out without cell phones and cameras.

Steel has allowed lifestyles very different from those of ancient times. Its solidity, flexibility and great environmental value continues to be an asset in new technologies.