Oceantic Network, formerly the Business Network for Offshore Wind, is pleased to announce that registration is open for the 2024 International Partnering Forum (IPF) taking place April 22-25, 2024, in New Orleans. Industry experts from around the world will converge to share best business practices, the most advanced technical and scientific findings, and policy updates impacting offshore wind. IPF connects global leaders and businesses in the supply chain, offers unparalleled networking opportunities, and delivers the most timely and relevant updates on the industry, from technology and policy to safety and siting.
As the largest offshore wind energy conference in the Americas, IPF offers a full week of tours, workshops, trainings, networking opportunities, and new programming (including the new FloatON Summit dedicated to floating offshore wind). Meet and connect with industry colleagues, global leaders, and offshore wind trailblazers.
Located in the heart of America’s offshore energy industry, New Orleans will host 2024 IPF just as the Gulf of Mexico begins developing its offshore wind market. Gulf companies are already hard at work building America’s next energy industry and moving to integrate new technologies like green hydrogen into offshore wind. Embracing its offshore energy past and embracing the future of offshore wind, New Orleans and the state of Louisiana are emerging as a center of experience, expertise, innovation, and heart of this new industry.
With an anticipated 4,000+ attendees, 300+ exhibitors, and 250+ speakers, IPF attendance helps secure your place as a leader in the industry.
You’ll find Delta Steel exhibiting at Booth #1206. Stop by to talk to our team and see how Infra-Metals can assist you in your next project delivery by utilizing our extensive inventory and processing capabilities.
Learn more about how we address the project life cycle and how we can help reduce the overall costs of your project. Additionally we work with many of the fabrication software applications serving the structural steel industry for project management. Stop by and ask one of our team members for more information.
We’re not just another supplier. Consider us an extension of your shop. Click here for more information regarding Internation Partnering Forum 2024
As a structural steel service center, Delta Steel has established lasting, mutually beneficial relationships in nationwide metal fabrication and distribution markets. We utilize the most advanced structural steel cutting and forming technologies to achieve higher-quality products for structural steel fabricators.
Our forming, plate burning, and robotic coping machines improve efficiency and product consistency. These services add value to our core capabilities and make more complex structural steel fabrication services available to a wider range of manufacturing, construction, and other industries.
Robotic Coping
Structural steel fabrication often requires a coping process to ensure pipe, tube, and beam assemblies fit together as intended. By carefully cutting, slotting, and shaping materials, coping ensures components of all shapes and sizes fit into their settings without interference.
Manual coping is a lengthy and involved process, with little guarantee of accuracy. At Delta Steel, we use automated robotic coping machines to process structural steel components. By transferring all engineering data to a CNC robotic coping machine, we cut down on material preparation and coping time. Our robotic coping machines maximize productivity, enhance quality, improve safety, and lower costs.
Features of Our Robotic Coping Machine
We use 7-axis plasma cutting machines that provide unparalleled speed and accuracy for all shaping procedures, including weld preparation. This automated robotic coping machine maintains high production continuity, reduces dependence on manual operators, and can create highly complex geometries from raw materials.
Robotic Coping Applications
Structural steel fabrication and processing
Structural steel distribution services
Process machinery and equipment
Structural steel manufacturing & assembly
Offshore energy operations
Advantages of Robotic Coping
Greater production efficiency
Higher quality
Reduced costs
Easier, safer operation
Flexibility
Robotic Forming
Robotic forming involves bending a metal sheet or plate into a specific angle or curve, most often with a CNC hydraulic press brake and die. The press brake forces the metal into a die to achieve a desired shape (typically a “U”, “V”, “W”, or “Z”). In our facilities across the country, Delta Steel operates press brakes from 20 to 60 feet, capable of accommodating projects of almost any scale.
Forming Applications
Marine
Renewable energy
Construction
Advantages of Robotic Forming
Higher quality and consistency
Adaptability
Shorter lead times
Safer operations
Plate Burning/Plasma Cutting
Plate burning, also called plasma cutting, uses a flame or electrical arc to ignite a gas or liquid to cut through various conductive metals. The plasma cutter converts an inert gas or compressed air into plasma, which heats the metal plate beyond its melting point. The melted material blows away, leaving a clean edge and reducing the need for finishing services. We use a CNC Hi-Def plasma cutting torch to cut up to 3-inch structural steel plates. These machines feature smaller nozzles that can create tighter tolerances than standard plasma cutters.
Features of Our Plasma Machines
Delta Steel primarily relies on plasma cutters, also known as combination plasma cutting machines, which utilize a multi-tool head to perform numerous functions. Plasma machines eliminate the need to transfer materials between stations, performing all drilling, milling, cutting, and other processes with a single machine.
Advantages of Plate Burning/Plasma Cutting
Greater production efficiency
Minimal downtime
Reduced long-term expense
Permanent reduction of labor costs
Increased ROI
Plate Burning/Plasma Cutting Applications
Technicians primarily use plasma cutting for high-alloy steel, but it’s also effective for lower-alloy steels. This makes plasma cutting suitable for a wide range of industries, including industrial construction, marine and automotive repair/restoration, salvage and scrapping, and various manufacturing processes.
Why Choose Delta Steel
As one of America’s largest structural steel service centers, Delta Steel offers an extensive range of structural steel products and value added services. Each Delta Steel distribution center is custom-tailored to better serve its region, because we’re dedicated to providing the most value-adding services and high-quality materials wherever our customers need them.
NASCC: The Steel Conference is back this year to San Antonio, TX. March 20-22.
NASCC is the premier educational and networking event for the structural steel industry bringing together structural engineers, structural steel fabricators, erectors, detailers, and architects. With over 300+ exhibitors showcasing products ranging from structural design software to machinery for processing structural steel, the show has some to offer everyone including many networking opportunities. There are over 230+ educational sessions that cover topics such as the latest design concepts, construction techniques, and cutting-edge research.
You’ll find Delta Steel exhibiting at Booth #1015, near the front entrance of the tradeshow floor. Stop by to talk to our team and see how Delta Steel can assist you in your next project delivery by utilizing our extensive inventory and processing capabilities.
Learn more about how we address the project life cycle and how we can help reduce the overall costs of your project. Additionally we work with many of the fabrication software applications serving the structural steel industry for project management. Stop by and ask one of our team members for more information.
We’re not just another supplier. Consider us an extension of your shop. Click here for more information regarding NASCC: The Steel Conference
The two main materials used in modern construction are structural steel and reinforced concrete. Due to their respective benefits, steel and concrete are commonly used to complement one another in certain projects. To build the strongest, safest possible structures, fabricators and contractors should understand and choose the best possible materials.
This article will discuss the advantages of structural steel and the applications for which this material is best suited.
Advantages of Structural Steel Over Concrete
Here are some of the benefits of structural steel:
Durability
Structural steel is highly durable and can withstand the harshest weather conditions, earthquakes, fires, and other natural disasters. With a high strength-to-weight ratio and excellent ductility, steel structures maintain their durability throughout the life of the structure even amid extreme conditions. Structural steel won’t crack, warp, or shrink over time, ensuring the structure remains stable and secure.
Strength
Structural steel is unbeatable when it comes to supporting heavy loads. It is ideal for large-scale construction projects like skyscrapers, bridges, and stadiums.
Flexibility
Easily molded into various sizes and shapes, structural steel is a remarkably malleable material. This flexibility allows architects and engineers to create complex designs and structures that would be difficult to achieve with concrete. Using structural steel also means future expansions and modifications to the structure are made easy.
Cost-Effectiveness
Structural steel is a cost-effective choice for construction projects because it is quick and easy to install, saving time and labor costs. Most domestic steel mills produce innovative, purpose-built high-strength structural steel. Using these efficient steel grades can help you save on foundation costs. Structural steel is also easier to use with modeling technology, cutting the total material cost of a steel package by up to 20%.
Sustainability
Steel can be recycled through various recycling processes. Approximately 95-99% of old steel can be recycled and reused in the production of new steel.
Speed of Construction
Steel structures can be erected quickly, minimizing site disruption and allowing projects to be completed on time and within budget. This speed is particularly important in areas with limited construction seasons or tight deadlines.
When To Choose Structural Steel Over Concrete
While structural steel and concrete have advantages, there are certain scenarios where structural steel is the better choice. Here are some scenarios where choosing structural steel over concrete makes sense:
High-Rise Buildings
High-rise buildings require a material that can withstand high stresses and loads. While the stability of concrete can decline over time, steel is a stronger and more durable choice for these kinds of infrastructure.
Long Span Bridges
Steel is much lighter than concrete, making it an ideal choice for long-span bridges. It can also be prefabricated off-site and assembled quickly on-site, reducing construction time and cost.
To Save Space
Structural steel is a great choice in situations where space is a key requirement. For instance, structural steel columns and spans allow for more room than concrete pillars.
Buildings With Large Open Spaces
Buildings with large open spaces, such as sports or exhibition halls, require materials that can span long distances without intermediate supports. In such cases, structural steel can provide the necessary strength and support while allowing for flexibility in design.
Delta Steel: Reliable Structural Steel Solutions
If you’re searching for high-quality structural steel products and expert precision processing services, Delta Steel is the trusted provider you need. We’re dedicated to delivering unparalleled customer service and ethical business practices, with over 60 years of experience and quality solutions to show for it!
Our team is equipped to handle a variety of services, including plate burning, drilling, saw cutting, and forming. In addition, we take pride in providing customized solutions to meet each of our customer’s unique needs.
Structural steel beams are horizontal load-bearing components used in construction and engineering projects. They are designed to support heavy loads, including the weight of a building or bridge, and transfer them to the supporting columns. They also come in various shapes, such as I-beams and wide flange beams.
The success of any construction project hinges on making the right choices, and selecting the appropriate steel beams is no exception. The following guide will provide a starting point for acquiring the correct beams that will ensure the structural integrity of a construction project:
1. Determine the Required Load-Bearing Capacity
The first step involves a comprehensive assessment of the maximum weight and stress the beams will need to support throughout their intended use. You should consider the structure’s weight, fixed equipment, permanent features, and movable objects.
2. Consider the Type of Construction and Design Specifications
This step ensures that the selected beams align with the specific requirements of the construction project, contributing to its overall success. First is the evaluation of the type of construction involved. This could range from commercial buildings — such as offices, retail spaces, or warehouses — to industrial facilities like manufacturing or power plants. The design specifications should also be established. These encompass the architectural and engineering requirements that the steel beams must meet.
Throughout this step, collaboration between engineers, structural steel service centers, and fabricators is crucial. They can collectively determine the optimal beam types, sizes, and configurations that align with the construction type and design specifications.
3. Compare Material Properties and Select the Appropriate Steel Grade
When comparing material properties, evaluating factors such as strength, ductility, corrosion resistance, and weldability is important. Consult with your structural steel service center to learn about the available steel grades and their material properties. They can provide valuable insights based on their knowledge and experience, taking into account the project’s specific requirements.
4. Consider Cost-Effectiveness and Budget Constraints
It is important to balance the desired quality and the cost of acquiring and utilizing the structural steel beams. This involves assessing the value the chosen beams bring to the project and ensuring they offer a favorable return on investment.
Discussing with other structural steel service centers with expertise in sourcing and pricing steel components is also beneficial. They can provide valuable insights into cost-saving options, such as exploring different suppliers or partners, negotiating bulk discounts, or considering alternative beam configurations.
5. Account for Additional Project-Specific Factors
Assessing the availability and lead times of the chosen steel beams ensures they can be delivered within the required timeframe. Coordination with suppliers and manufacturers becomes crucial if the project has a tight schedule or requires phased construction. Further, considering the ability of a service center to provide additional understanding of profiles and substitutions for specialty sizes can sometimes necessitate adjustments in project designs to accommodate these specifications. Depending on the nature of the project, there may also be specific codes, guidelines, or certifications that need to be adhered to.
Delta Steel: Your Trusted Partner for High-Quality Structural Steel Products
Delta Steel is the industry leader in supplying exceptional structural steel products! Our vast range of structural steel products caters to diverse construction needs. Whether it’s beams, columns, angles, channels, or plates, we offer an extensive selection of top-notch products designed to support and strengthen various structures.
Experience the Delta Steel difference and discover why we are the trusted choice for contractors, builders, and construction professionals across the industry. Contact us today to explore our services! You may also request a quote right away.
Structural steel tubing is a steel-based product utilized to construct various structures, including buildings, bridges, canopies and other structures. It is crafted from steel alloy, intended to offer stability and support to the final form. The material is an excellent choice for diverse uses, with its strength, long-lasting nature, adaptability, and corrosion resistance.
Selecting the appropriate tubing is crucial to ensure that a structure can bear the intended loads and stress levels. This requires an understanding of the factors that may impact the dependability of the final result. This article will explore the key considerations in choosing the right steel tubing for a particular application.
Essential Factors To Consider in Structural Steel Tubing Selection
Selecting the right tubing for stability and longevity should involve evaluating various factors that contribute to the suitability of the material for a particular application. Here is a closer look at the essential aspects that will significantly impact the overall performance of the finished structure:
Material Options
Carbon steel is a widely used material in the production of structural tubing due to its excellent mechanical properties and affordability. Its production starts with steel coils typically made from low-carbon steel. Low-carbon steel contains a relatively small amount of carbon, usually less than 0.3%, which provides good formability and weldability.
Tubing Methods
The choice between seamless and welded tubing can impact the performance and suitability of the tubing for an application. Seamless tubing is made from solid steel without welds or seams. This results in a smooth and consistent surface, which makes it ideal for high-pressure and high-temperature applications.
On the other hand, welded steel tubing is made from multiple pieces of steel that are welded together. This makes it a more cost-effective option as it involves roll-forming strips or sheets of steel into a tube shape and then welding the seam longitudinally. This method allows for efficient production and cost savings compared to other techniques.
Temperature Range
The temperature range specifies the maximum and minimum ambient temperatures the tubing can handle without compromising its integrity. For instance, high-temperature applications — such as chemical engineering, automotive components, aerospace equipment, etc. — require materials that maintain structural integrity without losing strength. Meanwhile, low-temperature applications — such as buildings and structures located in areas with heavy snow loads — need tubing materials that can withstand cold temperatures without becoming brittle.
Corrosion and Erosion Capabilities
Ensuring a structure can withstand environmental factors requires a tubing material and method with strong corrosion and erosion resistance capabilities. Coating, priming or galvanizing steel is often preferred when tubing is exposed to saltwater or acidic environments due to the enhanced corrosion resistance provided by these services
Budget
The expenses associated with the tubing — including the cost of materials and fabrication — often depend on the tubing type, size, and required quantity. Typically, carbon steel tubing is the most economical option, whereas stainless steel and other specialized alloys may be more costly. Nevertheless, it is critical to factor in the long-term expenses and advantages of using different materials.
Delta Steel for High-Quality Structural Steel Tubing Products
Delta Steel has been the leading provider of structural steel tubing in the market since 1963! We are dedicated to providing high-quality steel products and precise processing, which enable us to offer other services like robotic coping, plate burning, and forming. Furthermore, our top priority is maintaining ethical and professional business practices with our customers, suppliers, and employees.
Steel is one of the most common building materials worldwide for its strength and lasting durability. It effectively serves as the framework for tall structures, can achieve virtually any interior design shape, and functions as a reliable foundation while saving on space. If you’re a fabrication shop looking for a quality steel supplier for your construction customers’ project needs, it’s important to evaluate not just the supplier’s stock but also the services they offer. Learn more about what to keep in mind when choosing the optimal structural steel service center for your business.
Key Points to Consider in Choosing a Structural Steel Supplier
When evaluating your options, consider your supplier expectations for timeframe, material selection, capabilities, budget, and customer service.
Just-in-Time Delivery
Just-in-time delivery allows fabrication shops to fulfill contractors’ orders for steel products smoothly and efficiently. Steel service centers can offer timely order fulfillment with the materials to bolster your inventory. Just-in-time delivery leads to optimal inventory management, ensuring you always have what you need without having to set aside significant warehousing space in your facility. When steel arrives at your fabrication shop as planned, contractor customers can maintain their structural projects’ momentum.
Selection of Domestic Products
Year over year, countries like China, Canada, and Mexico have been increasing their U.S. steel exports, creating a greater dependence on international sources for our steel infrastructure needs and negatively impacting our economy. Service centers typically offer a wide selection of materials, and domestic products help reduce turn times. More importantly, however, choosing domestic products supports the local economy by creating jobs, assisting U.S. companies, and generally fostering economic growth.
Domestic materials are beneficial per certain U.S. government requirements, as well. Under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, companies using 100% American-produced materials like U.S. steel are eligible to work on infrastructure projects that the law’s package funds.
Lastly, opting for domestic steel can help minimize your environmental impact. Domestic products don’t generate the emissions associated with long-distance transportation. American-made steel consists almost entirely of recycled, end-of-life U.S. structural steel for maximized sustainability.
Value-Added Processes
Value-added processes are any additional services the supplier offers that go beyond the basic supply of steel. These might include:
Milling
Forming
Drilling
Saw cutting
T-Splitting
Plate burning
Blasting and priming
Cambering
Also, suppliers often utilize technological advancements that add value. Examples include computer software and systems for added efficiency and operational transparency as well as customer portals for streamlined, real-time updates.
Cash Flow Management
Understanding the payment terms and credit options the supplier offers is essential. A financially stable supplier is more likely to have robust cash flow management practices in place. Steel service centers with flexible payment terms can help manage cash flow in your operation, and you can typically work with their credit department on your financial needs. Service centers may also offer steel at mill prices without a mandatory minimum order quantity (MOQ).
Customer Service and Communication
Reliable suppliers tend to respond promptly to queries and provide all necessary information in a timely manner. Responsiveness is crucial for smooth order execution and addressing any issues or concerns that may arise. They should also offer multiple communication channels, such as phone, email, or a customer self-service portal, providing convenience and flexibility in reaching out to them.
Given their expertise in steel materials and applications, the supplier may also be able to offer substitutions based on your material inquiry or offer another size that will work best, providing efficient and cost-effective steel solutions for optimal customer support.
Delta Steel: Your Best Choice for Structural Steel Needs
As one of the leading structural steel service centers in the United States, Delta Steel is committed to providing our clients with high-quality, timely, and cost-effective products and services. Our goal is to be your one-stop shop for structural carbon steel, and our team offers steel products such as structural tubing and beams, piping, sheet and plate products, flats, squares, rounds, angles, and much more. We operate as the intermediary between steel mills and steel fabrication shops, providing a wide product selection and fast order fulfillment. We also offer JIT packages to assist with inventory management.
In addition to utilizing state-of-the-art equipment and providing an array of value-added processes to ensure you receive material in a form that’s immediately job-ready, we believe in offering technologically advanced solutions to our customers. Our team can take your DWG files and create the program necessary to burn parts out of full sheets of plate, optimizing a customer’s material usage. We’ve adopted AISC’s steelXML standard for processing inquiries and orders. Also, using our software, we can provide accurate information on how much material a customer will need for their project and then immediately check material availability in our inventory. To best empower our customers, Delta Steel also provides an innovative customer portal, giving you access to real-time tracking information, test reports, LEED documentation, and more.
We say farewell to long time President, Mark Haight.
After graduating from Ohio Northern University in 1980, Mark Haight went to work for a steel service center in MI. Mark we knew to the business, but it was an opportunity, so he took at it. He worked hard, tried to make a positive impression and it got noticed. Within a few months he was included in vendor, customer and industry meetings, taking notice of his opportunities to move up. Toward the end of 1982 that business was sold and the VP of Sales left to start a new business in CT, where he eventually would offer him an opportunity to join.
Years later in 1990 Mark was given the chance to build a business and Infra-Metals was born. His primary goal was to build a business that could survive in all markets. To accomplish that everyone needed to feel like they had a stake in the business and essentially feel like an owner.
“It has always been my mission to build a business where all involved had a chance to live their American Dream.”
After 32 years leading Infra-Metals and thereafter Delta Steel, we all thank you Mark Haight for your mentoring, leadership and friendship and wish you Godspeed and good fortune in your much deserved retirement from Infra-Metals and Delta Steel.
Effective January 1st Oak Williams was promoted to President of Infra-Metals and Delta Steel.
Oak joined the sales team at Infra-Metals in 1998 shortly after graduating college with a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Vermont. In 2014 he accepted the challenge of being the leader of the greenfield operation we built in New Boston Ohio. As General Manager, Oak put together the commercial and operational teams that were ultimately responsible for the very successful startup we had there, achieving profitability in just a few short months.
In 2018 Oak was promoted to Vice President – Commercial and spent a lot of time reorganizing and reenergizing the leadership teams throughout Infra-Metals and Delta Steel.
Now as President and COO Oak looks forward to continuing to lead by example and continue the mission to create an environment where everybody wants to come to work each day.
On May 11, 2022, Infra-Metals and Delta Steel received the 2021 MSCI Safety Innovation & Improvement Award for the the Infra-Metals Trailer Rail Safety System.
In early 2019, our company had experienced several injuries and/or near misses resulting from falls from trailers. As a result, we challenged ourselves to find a solution to eliminate and reduce the fall risk while working on top of a trailer deck.
The Infra-Metals Trailer Rail Safety System is a fall prevention safety device which provides a barrier around the perimeter of the fall hazard when working on top of a flat bed trailer deck. The system eliminates the fall hazard that would normally require a fall protection device. It is lightweight, portable, durable, and can be installed quickly by attaching the safety device to the trailers existing rub rail. The safety device is made from welded and bent tubing and can be sized to fit multiple trailer configurations and can used in area’s where width is a concern. A newer version with a walk platform has been developed when materials prevent a walking area on the trailer and casters were added for ease of movement.
From Concept to Execution
We created a multi-location team that consisted of a mix of shop personnel and our highest-level management to brainstorm and test potential solutions. Our research revealed that while we could reduce the number of times, we got onto the trailer deck there were still circumstances where it was unavoidable. We reviewed, purchased and tested several promising devises that were available on the market, but none were effective in meeting our operational requirements.
Infra-Metals and Delta Steel personnel were collectively brainstorming amongst our locations for potential solutions to keep employees safe while working on top of trailers. At the time, Greg Borchardt was the General Manager of Infra-Metals in Petersburg, VA but was transitioning to take over for retiring VP of Operations – Mike Dean, who had initiated the project. We reviewed several different safety devices such as attachable netting and tie-off devices.
During one of these conversations, our GM in our Infra-Metals Marseilles location, Dave VonHolst, mentioned that he had seen some loading platforms in the nearby Nucor Tubular Mill. He inquired with them and was able to get some drawings and was offered a set of platforms to try as a loan. These were nice and spanned the full length of the trailer, included a platform to stand on, a handrail to keep you from falling, and they were on casters. The only problems were that they were heavy and wide. They would not work in our facilities due to the width requirements.
Around the same point in time, our Infra-Metals Wallingford facility had purchased a set of aluminum side rails that would fit into the stake pockets of a trailer. They were conducting a trial of these in their loading operation and they worked, but it took a lot of time to set them up and take them off. They were also difficult to pick up by yourself and get high enough in the air to seat them in the pockets. They were safe but not effective and management worried about the strain of setting 6 of these per trailer on every trailer we handled. These devices would solve the fall risk issue but it would create a strain and sprain hazard in our work environment.
There were several requirements we had established:
The device had to be slim
Be easy to move around
Use casters to eliminate the to lift it
Support a persons’ weight if they fell against it
Prevent a fall risk while on a trailer deck
We studied the drawings and the pictures of the potential solutions and evaluated the benefits of both. We needed to somehow take the effectiveness of both and make them work for our facilities.
The Solution
The trailers have side rails and stake pockets that we can hook into to provide the lateral stability, so the base doesn’t need to be wide to make them stable if we hook them onto the trailer. We drew out a very rough sketch. It was skeleton made from handrail pipe with wheels and a sliding hook that you could roll up to a trailer, slide the latches up and then hook them onto the side rail. We decided that it needed to be 16’ long which would be light enough to roll in and out of place easily and only take 3 devices per side to cover the entire length of a flat bed trailer. We then took the sketch to the Operations Manager of Infra-Metals Petersburg – Roy Glass and Maintenance Supervisor – Joe Krevonich. We asked them to put their heads together and build a prototype that we could test. It took them about a day, and they had built the first prototype that they thought would work. We took some videos and sent them to Mike Dean, who was Vice President at the time, and explained the concept to him through short videos of the device.
As it turns out, Mike had been asked to sit on a task force with other Reliance Steel and Aluminum family of company’s personnel to try and solve this problem. Also a member of this task force was Ed Comer, who is a Safety Specialist with Reliance that we have worked closely with in the past to solve many different problems. They took the ball and ran with. We worked with a fabricator who was also a customer to develop a 3D CAD drawing for the device. Another Reliance Steel company with engineers on staff made sure the safety device would handle the lateral load. They also produced a set of fabrication drawings to build from. Mike then sent Greg the drawings so we could have a local fabricator customer build a set of 6. We were able use these to evaluate the safety device on the shop floor in a real operational setting.
When this first set of 6 were complete, we put them to use in the Infra-Metals Petersburg warehouse. The feedback from our operators was mixed. They understood the benefit, but it was also another step in the operation, and it slowed them down. As we continued our live evaluation, we realized it only took a few minutes at each stop for the trailer. It wasn’t strenuous and the devise didn’t take up valuable space. The device performance exceeded expectations for eliminating the fall risk while working on a flat bed trailer.
With the support of our President Mark Haight, we rolled them out to all of our locations.
Commitment to continual improvement:
As we began to roll the devices out and use them, one of our locations met with yet another fabricator customer to potentially build them locally. Our General Manager at our Infra-Metals New Boston Facility – PJ Rase and the customer produced another iteration. They built a narrow rail that still hooks into the trailer but added a working platform to it. These had the benefit of a stable platform to work from with a handrail but still maintaining a small enough width to be useable in our facilities. We found that when you use the original narrow rail on one side of the trailer and the larger rail with the platform on the other side the safety device was also complementing our production requirements.
Lessons Learned
As it goes with all good stories, there’s a plot twist at the end. Today we have the safety rails located and in use at all of our Infra-Metals and Delta Steel locations. We also have been able to establish a firm policy that nobody is permitted on a trailer unless they have the safety rails in place. The twist is that we have continued to introduce “No-Touch” tools and find innovative ways to eliminate the necessity to get on top of flat bed trailers.
While we have significantly reduced the number of times, we get on top of a flat bed trailer with the use of these tools we understand our operations will continue to face scenarios when working on top is the only way to perform certain tasks on a flat bed trailer.
OSHA shows in 2020 flatbed trailers have been involved in 592 major injuries or fatalities.
Infra-Metals and Delta Steel had approximately 60 near-miss or OSHA recordable injuries from 2015 through 2019 working on top of flatbed trailers.
Infra-Metals and Delta Steel reduced the number of near-misses or OSHA recordables to approximately 4 from the time the flat bed trailer safety device was introduced in 2019 through 2020
Conclusion
We have significantly reduced the number of flatbed trailer near-misses and injuries due to the introduction of the “Trailer Safety Rail System” and our “No Touch” tools but our job is not done. We are committed to not just moving steel, but moving steel safely. At Infra-Metals and Delta Steel our number one priority is the safety of our team members, and we will continue to seek innovative ways to do our jobs safer.
Infra-Metals Co. was founded in 1990 intent on becoming the premier steel service center servicing the structural steel market. Since our inception, we have grown into one of the largest service centers with locations along the East Coast from New England to South Florida as well as into the Midwest from Illinois through Ohio and on through the Southwest in Texas. Delta Steel, Inc. is also a member of the Infra Metals organization and both belong to the Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. Family of Companies.
NASCC: The Steel Conference is back this year to Denver, CO. March 23-25. It has been several years since we have been able to meet in person at one of the largest structural steel conferences in North America.
NASCC is the premier educational and networking event for the structural steel industry bringing together structural engineers, structural steel fabricators, erectors, detailers, and architects. With over 235+ exhibitors showcasing products ranging from structural design software to machinery for processing structural steel, the show has some to offer everyone including many networking opportunities. There are over 200+ educational sessions that cover topics such as the latest design concepts, construction techniques, and cutting-edge research.
You’ll find Delta Steel, Inc. exhibiting at Booth #1803, near the front entrance of the tradeshow floor, adjacent to the large machinery exhibits. Stop by to talk to our team and see how Delta Steel, Inc. can assist you in your next project delivery by utilizing our extensive inventory and processing capabilities.
Learn more about how we address the project life cycle and how we can help reduce the overall costs of your project. Additionally we work with many of the fabrication software applications serving the structural steel industry for project management. Stop by and ask one of our team members for more information.
We’re not just another supplier. Consider us an extension of your shop. Click here for more information regarding NASCC: The Steel Conference
