What are ASTM Standards?
Posted by: Mark Anderson on September 9, 2021
In your experience in the metal industry, you’ve likely come across ASTM standard designations. You’ll find phrases like ASTM B194 for beryllium copper or ASTM B103 for phosphor bronze, but what are ASTM standards, exactly?
ASTM safety standards are crucial to ensure materials are high-quality, and performing exactly the way they’re supposed to in your facility. Below we’ll give you a quick review of what ASTM means, and why it should matter to you.
4 Questions to Ask Your Metal Supplier
Posted by: Brian Rothstein on June 29, 2021
When searching for and qualifying a new metal supplier, here are our responses to four of the most common questions.
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Employees Will Help U.S. Become Number One Economy in the World
Posted by: Brian Rothstein on February 25, 2021
If you knew today that the U.S. economy would look stronger and better 10—or even 100—years from now, would you change the way you plan, forecast, and manage your day-to-day activities? How about your outlook and plans for 2021?
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Our Biggest Bend Test: A Manufacturer’s Reflections on COVID-19
Posted by: Brian Rothstein on September 30, 2020
Whether you’re looking at the industrial level or the individual one, COVID-19 has made a lasting impact. At the beginning of 2020, nobody really knew what the impact would be, and to a degree we still don’t. Undoubtedly, the ways we live and work have changed. I believe every area of industry has a unique story to tell. Here’s an inside look at our experience as a specialty metal vendor located in St. Paul, MN.
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What is the Difference Between Tempering and Annealing?
Posted by: Dani Weinhandl on July 16, 2020
Tempering and annealing are both methods of heat treating metal. The purpose of heat treating is to intentionally alter the physical (and chemical) properties of metal in order to prepare it for manufacturing. Heat treatments can affect many properties of a metal product, including strength, hardness, formability, ductility, malleability, and machinability.
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What Exactly is ISO Certified? And Why Does it Matter?
Posted by: Jim Wilber on June 17, 2020
In a global marketplace, checks and balances need to be in place. Otherwise, it would be difficult to maintain consistency and quality across industries and nations. International standards help to keep a level playing field, and one such organization is ISO.
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What Secondary Services Can I Get with My Metal Materials?
Posted by: Brian Rothstein on May 18, 2020
When you’re in the market for metal material the first thing you need to find is a supplier who carries — or is able to source — the type of metal you need. Next, it’s about quantity. Some vendors only deal in larger quantities, making it difficult to source smaller volumes, like five or fifteen pounds. Once you’ve found the material type and the quantity, the next consideration is whether you need sheet or coil and what lengths and widths of materials you require.
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We Are Open: Tackling the Challenge of COVID-19 Head On
Posted by: Brian Rothstein on April 29, 2020
Over the past several weeks, the realities of COVID-19 have increasingly occupied our thoughts. The surge in cases across the globe and now here in Minnesota have made us all pause and reflect. With so much uncertainty, we would like to put your mind at ease.
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How is Stainless Steel Used in the Food Service Industry?
Posted by: Brian Rothstein on December 3, 2019
As we’ve covered before, stainless steel has a wide range of uses. And throughout its history, perhaps its most well-known use has something to do with food. Stainless steel cutlery has been around since the 1910s. Stainless steel sinks were first introduced in the 1930s, and stainless steel cooktops and backsplashes date back to the 1940s and 50s. Not to mention stainless steel in the kitchen really became a household name in the late 1980s when General Electric started pushing stainless steel dishwashers, side-by-side refrigerators, and built-in cooking products in TV advertisements and print materials.
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Why is Stainless Steel Not Magnetic?
Posted by: Brian Rothstein on October 24, 2019
Many of us have an immediate association when we think about stainless steel — anything from kitchen appliances, medical instruments, components for renewable energy technologies, and building construction may come to mind. When you really think about it, chances are you’ll find something made from stainless steel nearly everywhere you look.
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