Steel is one of the most used building materials in the world. It’s used in infrastructure such as roads and bridges, in buildings and in manufactured products large and small, from toys to sporting goods to automobiles. About half the steel in the world is used in buildings and infrastructure. Another 16% is used for mechanical equipment that’s used in manufacturing and other industries and another 13% is used specifically for the automotive industry. As you can see, steel is very important. But how does it get here? Finished steel doesn’t occur naturally. There is a very intense process to turn raw materials into the finished steel product.
The main ingredient in finished steel is iron ore, which occurs naturally and has to be mined out of the ground. The iron ore is combined with coke, a product made from heating oil and coal, and limestone. The mixture is melted in a blast furnace at very high temperatures. Next, the steel is made using an induction furnace. These days, there is usually an amount of recycled steel that is added at the induction furnace stage. There can also be secondary steel making, which produces different kinds of steel, such as stainless steel. This occurs during the steel melting process and can involve the addition of various ingredients.
Induction furnaces are huge machines and they are very expensive to own and maintain. The steel making process is very intense, and the high temperatures needed to make steel can cause a lot of wear on your furnaces. If you need a new induction furnace to replace an old one or for expansion purposes, you might want to consider a used induction furnace. If you need to make repairs to your furnace or need replacement parts, you might look to refurbished equipment for your induction furnace. Buying a used furnace or buying refurbished parts can save you thousands of dollars on your equipment.
Steel making is an important industry, and without it, a number of industries would struggle to exist. Having the right equipment for making steel is vital, but because the infrastructure involved in making steel is so cost-intensive, you may want to look at buying used equipment and refurbished parts.
