Photo credit: Tinker Air Force Base
3 MIN. READ
If cotton is “the fabric of our lives”[i], then steel and sheet metal are the spine of our nation. From the swords, muskets and other artillery that created the United States of America to the machinery that saw her through the Industrial Revolution, from the spikes that held her first transcontinental railway to the foundational building materials that enable her to reach the sky with her tallest buildings, steel has played an integral role in the birth and continued growth of the nation.
But not all steel is military or structural. Fabricated steel is digital, enabling the transcontinental 5G revolution in telecommunications[ii]. It is agricultural, aerospace, energy, medical, decorative and automotive too.
Sheet metal is particularly useful in the construction industry. It is easy to transport, and its weather-resistant properties make it an ideal material for siding, sheds and roofing[iii]. Even the show horse industry uses sheet metal to manufacture the decorative breastplates and tack.
It is difficult to imagine any industry that is not impacted by steel and metal fabrication.
Sheet Metal Statistics
The US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the 2019 median wage for all workers was $39,810 while the median wage for sheet metal workers was $50,400 – a difference of over $10,000 per year[iv]. Additionally, most steel and sheet metal positions carry medical benefits and retirement plans – a tremendous value-add in a tenuous economy.
IndustryNet recently analyzed its world-class database of the US sheet metal industry and the steel industry. Combined, these two industries maintain 7,031 companies nationwide, employing 194,936 individuals. These figures represent an average growth of 1.76% over last year’s figures.
The most recent sales figures in the sheet metal industry top $59,968,866,279 with the steel industry adding annual sales of $21,293,299,989. The steel industry distributes 59% of its product domestically, while the sheet metal industry relies much more heavily on domestic distribution at 85% of its product.
Regional Statistics
The Midwest region holds a slight edge in the steel industry with 39% of steel companies and only 29% of the metal fabricators. The numbers flip for the Southern region, where the steel industry houses 29% of its factories but 34% of the metal fabricators.
The Western and Northeastern regions are virtually tied as far as housing the steel industry with 15% and 16% of companies respectively. The same can be said for the metal fabrication industry with 18% of its companies in the Northeast and 20% in the West.
Combining the steel and sheet metal industries, the greatest number of companies call the South home with 2,346 total enterprises. The Midwest is close behind, housing 2036 businesses. The Northeast trails the other two regions with a combined total of 1368 companies.
Highlighted Companies
Two examples of reliable sheet metal fabricators are Accurate Metal Fabricating[v] in Chicago, Illinois and C. Mayo, Inc.[vi] in Springdale, Arizona.
Accurate Metal Fabricating began as a small metal shop in 1939 serving the point-of-purchase market. Today, the company has expanded from simple metal fabrication work to serving all aspects of a consumer's needs. Still working closely with its customers, Accurate Metal now provides a wide range of engineering services, design and fabrication for finished products as well as parts. Some of the company’s primary customers include the medical industry, lighting companies and businesses involving fittings for homes, offices and industrial cabinetry.
C. Mayo, Inc. is an industrial metal fabrication shop that specializes in custom ductwork. Founded in 1953, it is still family-owned and operated. The company specializes in water-jetting, enabling its employees to cut extremely fine lines through sheet metal for greater accuracy. While known for its custom ductwork, C. Mayo performs all types of metal fabrication and equipment installation.
Looking for sheet metal suppliers? Search, source & quote for free on the industrial marketplace IndustryNet. Or are you looking for sales leads in the sheet metal industry? Reach 500,000 industrial businesses and their one million executives with an IndustrySelect subscription.
Resources:
[i] https://thefabricofourlives.com/?gclid=CjwKCAjwlbr8BRA0EiwAnt4MTs_3dwcOHrmxdxVY4JKAVFwUAaVeQkUpQRecBAtNqudJWceZf8jT-BoC-CwQAvD_BwE
[ii] https://newsroom.posco.com/en/shifting-needs-for-steel-materials-with-the-rise-of-5g-telecommunications-and-smart-cities/
[iii] https://www.thinmetalsales.com/blog/thin-sheet-metal-what-is-it-and-what-is-it-used-for/
[iv] https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/sheet-metal-workers.htm#tab-5
[v] https://www.industrynet.com/listing/1230830/accurate-metal-fabricating
Article Sources:
[i] https://thefabricofourlives.com/?gclid=CjwKCAjwlbr8BRA0EiwAnt4MTs_3dwcOHrmxdxVY4JKAVFwUAaVeQkUpQRecBAtNqudJWceZf8jT-BoC-CwQAvD_BwE
[ii] https://www.thefabricator.com/thefabricator/article/shopmanagement/2020-metal-fabrication-forecast-the-big-rethink
[iii] https://www.thinmetalsales.com/blog/thin-sheet-metal-what-is-it-and-what-is-it-used-for/
[iv] https://www.bls.gov/ooh/construction-and-extraction/sheet-metal-workers.htm#tab-5
[v] https://www.industrynet.com/listing/1230830/accurate-metal-fabricating
[vi] https://www.industrynet.com/listing/157741/c-mayo-inc
